THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) yesterday received a gift of rescue equipment valued 2,500 Euros from its French counterpart.
The handing over was done at GFS Headquarters on Cornhill Street, Stabroek, Georgetown, where French Police Attaché at the French Embassy for Guyana and  Suriname, Mr. Georges Marcean and Mr. Pierre Saint Arromon, France Honorary Consul, were also present.
Both French visitors spoke of the collaborative efforts of the two countries, in terms of training, among other things, in the development of their partnership.
In response, Guyanese Fire Chief Marlon Gentle expressed appreciation and thanks for the gesture which would increase local capability.
He said, through the bilateral relationship, the countries benefitted from several training programmes, workshops and conferences, as well as technical assistance.
Gentle said, although the donation is of a non-firefighting type, it will be used for the purpose intended because the GFS has been called upon, more than once, to rescue accident victims, especially who have to be extricated from crashed motor vehicles.
He said the items received include stretchers, capability boards and medical packs.
Gentle noted that the French Embassy in Suriname first contacted the GFS on a project in the Guiana Shield and it is the fourth such training programme in civil emergencies.