`We got to be more skilled, we got to be more confident and we got to be more courageous’
Saying that the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has to be “capable, aware, trained and engaged” in addressing its existing challenges, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn said that efforts are underway to boost the capacity and capability of the organisation including enhanced public awareness and prevention measures.
“The fire service has a very, very important role to play. The challenges going forward are extremely significant…The fire service has to be capable, aware, trained and engaged….The normal issues in terms of fighting fires, we got to be better at it. We got to be more skilled, we got to be more confident and we got to be more courageous,” Benn said.
He was at the time delivering remarks at the first ever Fire Advisory Board outreach which was held yesterday at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Training Centre.
The outreach was held under the theme “fire safety starts with the people, let’s endeavour to achieve our goals through education”.
Benn lauded the Fire Advisory Board for their effort in conducting such outreaches to ensure that there is national fire awareness to prevent loss of lives and property.
He admitted that the GFS has a shortfall in terms of being able to deal with fires.
“Since becoming a minister about a year or so or almost, it has been one of the grievances we have in relation to being able to make sure that we have the appropriate assets, that we make use of the training we have acquired in respect to engaging in the difficult issue of fighting fires, making sure we have enough mobile and other assets to fight those fires, of course that we fight them appropriately but more importantly that we pay attention towards public awareness and engagement to make sure we mitigate and prevent the occurrences of fire,” Benn stated.
According to Benn, he has been encouraging the GFS to “rise up” to their mission of fighting fires.
In an effort to boost its capacity and capability, Benn noted that a large number of recruits are being trained and five new fire tenders were recently purchased.
The new recruits, he said will be dispatched to the new fire stations at Lethem, Mahdia and Mabaruma.
“….I have said that we have to pay attention to the care of these assets because on the unit basis they are much more expensive than any other thing which we buy in the ministry. Sixty to ninety million for a new fire truck and that we got to pay attention to its proper usage,” Benn advised.
In terms of fire hydrants, he further noted that he was tasked by President Irfaan Ali to review the issue of re-establishing the fire mains and hydrants in the city and the new housing areas.
Georgetown, Benn said had perhaps more than 600 hydrants, 20 percent of which are not functioning.
“So we are working at this…..We have taken up the mandate and so at the level of infrastructure, this work has to go forward and funding being required, we will have to see how fast we can roll this out,” he said.
This improvement, Benn said should be possible within two to three years.
Meanwhile, Fire Chief Kalamadeen Edoo stressed the importance of fire safety and prevention.
Edoo said businesses need to be more fire conscious. As such, he urged business persons to construct buildings with fire safety in mind.
“You must build the capacity of your staff with the knowledge of fire protection, fire prevention and fire safety as a high priority,” he said.
“…Our advice to you is to install smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems (these) are very critical to help detect and overcome any outbreak of fire in the beginning stage,” Edoo added.
As an emerging oil producing country, Edoo said the country is expected to see rapid development. It is therefore important that the country’s assets are protected, he said.
“The first line of protection is to have buildings built in conformity with the internationally recognised standard. It is equally important that they are fitted with the requisite fire protection as well as the adoption of the building code,” he added.
Yesterday afternoon’s outreach included presentations on building codes, fire safety tips, relief in the event of a fire and causes and prevention of electrical fires.
