Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn yesterday said that he is “fairly” happy with the Guyana Fire Service’s (GFS) performance last year but he cited challenges such as being prepared for fires in the oil and gas sector.
“We are fairly happy with the service over the past year. We have noted a re-energising of the Guy-ana Fire Service with the new leadership,” Benn said. He was at the time speaking at the opening ceremony of the GFS Senior Officer’s Conferen-ce.
The two-day conference is being held under the theme “Strengthening our capabilities through training and the use of technology for a safer Guyana”.
During his address, Benn disclosed that the GFS has recorded a 22 percent reduction in fires over the past year. “…In spite of all the distress and trauma that we have had, with some loss of lives we had a 22 percent or so reduction in fires over the past year. Not to say that we have not had big challenges in respect to fire,” he said.
Several large fires last year – including the destruction of the Brickdam Police Station – raised serious concerns about the GFS’ capacity and approach.
Presently, Benn said awareness and responses to issues relating to fire are “paramount”. “….The question of the threat of fire in terms of prevention and the question of the response, the assertiveness of the response and alacrity with response is so important,” Benn noted.
Admitting that training of members of the GFS has to be “stepped up”, Benn said that members of the GFS should understand that with the country’s current transformation, there is a need to advance to a level where the appropriate technology can be used to fight fires in the Oil and Gas sector.
“…For the things which we normally do, there is still work to do…There is the question of proper engagement, there is a question of whether even now we are really at the level where we can adequately fight fires,” Benn said.
“We have been spending the money. We are bringing in the new assets and we want to see them properly employed. We want to see our firefighters properly equipped out there when you go to fight a fire,” he added.
Achievements
Over the past few months, the GFS faced intense scrutiny over its performance in response to fires particularly the one at the Brickdam police station.
President Irfaan Ali had blasted firefighters and warned that their lax approach will not be tolerated. “The response of the fire service was poor, at its best, yesterday, and as President, I hope that the fire service can acknowledge this because if you can’t acknowledge the problem, you can’t deal with it,” Ali said.
Wickham yesterday stated that the GFS has “taken up” the challenge and are heading “full speed” ahead to satisfy its mandate.
As a matter of fact, he said the GFS was able to accomplish 93 percent of its ten-point plan which was introduced at last year’s conference.
As such, he said there will be no need for any external assistance to the GFS. “I would love to openly say that today we have taken up the challenge and we are heading full speed ahead…..We stand tall and strong in the Guyana Fire Service,” Wickham said.
The possibility of external assistance had been raised by President Ali last year after the Brickdam conflagration.
Wickham also outlined some of the agency’s achievements over the last year which include the construction of a new fire station at Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara and the establishment of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) units at Diamond, EBD and Melanie, East Coast of Demerara.
He added that for the first time, a fire service health and safety committee was also commissioned where members who were elected to serve are tasked with monitoring the health and safety of all GFS employees.
Additionally, Wickham said that more than 3,000 persons were aided and 24 babies were successfully delivered by the EMS. “The GFS continue to lead in the way of providing rescue and safety services to the people of this nation,” he said.
Currently, Wickham said preparations are ongoing to train members of the GFS in an effort to prepare them to serve the booming Oil and Gas sector. “The GFS understand clearly that we have our shore base facilities….We will have to offer protection and fire safety….We are presently preparing ourselves, that is our staff going through training so that we will be better able to service in those areas,” he noted.
Ranks also continue to benefit from both local and international training. “The Government of Guyana has been supportive to the Guyana Fire Service…I wish to say that we will create the environment, we will lead, we will perform our duties,” Wickham said.
Expansion
The GFS’s ten-point plan included the renovation and modernization of several of its buildings, the implementation of new departments and training opportunities to better equip its officers.
Other plans include expanded services in Essequibo, Leguan and Wakenaam and the operationalization of fire stations in Mahdia, Lethem and Mabaruma.
Benn yesterday noted that the GFS has expanded its services throughout the country. He said the expansion is expected to be extended to the rural communities. “The expansion of the service is a recognition that the homes of the people in the rural areas and indigenous communities and those places that their homes burn too,” he said.
Recently, the GFS also established auxiliary firefighters in Leguan and Wakenaam.
“The effort of the Guyana Fire Service, their mission, their engagement, their awareness, the training, the proper upkeep of the assets is so critical for our country overall and of course, there is also the rescue mission which we have to develop on,” Benn noted.
As it relates to fire prevention, Benn said that to date a total of 151 fire hydrants have been serviced and replaced in the city.
Another 150 will be procured and distributed in Regions 2, 3, 5, 6 and 10.
He said that this year, the ministry plans to purchase and distribute smoke detectors to home and business owners.
Benn also pointed to the need for a campaign to inspect buildings, particularly those that are commercial and to encourage the installation of fire prevention mechanisms.
“The inspectorate function is very important. The certification of the buildings and the businesses related is extremely important and it has to go hand in hand with the investments we are making in bringing back the hydrant system in Georgetown and other parts of the country in good condition,” he said.
