WITH a constantly rising population due to the construction of new homes, particularly in the community of La Parfaite / Harmonie, coupled with recent fires, there is an urgent need for a centrally located fire station on the West Bank of Demerara.
Fire tenders coming from Georgetown or Leonora take quite a long time to get to the scene of fires that occur in the West Bank area. This is because the fire station at Leonora is quite a distance away; likewise Georgetown, where consideration must also be given to the fire tender crossing the busy Habour Bridge.
These delayed responses of the Fire Service result in significant or complete loss of property, and as occurred recently, lives.
I join with the residents of the West Bank of Demerara to call on the Minister of Home Affairs for his intervention towards the urgent establishment of a fire station or outpost to service this quickly developing and populated community.