HOME Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn and Permanent Secretary, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas, on Wednesday, bid farewell to the Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle DSM, who has served the Guyana Fire Service for the past 36 years.

Gentle recently reached retirement age. At a simple farewell ceremony held at the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Headquarters, Minister Benn thanked Gentle for his dedicated service to Guyana, and for leaving the GFS with an overall improved outlook, inclusive of better systems, more assets, and better services, from what he inherited.
The minister noted that it is a collective responsibility to ensure a better life is passed on to the next generation than what was inherited.
He further encouraged the firefighters to continue to build, optimise and improve their service to Guyana.

Gentle, in his farewell remarks, challenged the firefighters to do better than him, to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keeper and to listen to each other.
He reminded that there is no “I” in team or in the Guyana Fire Service. He also charged the officers to support the new leadership of the GFS and to remember the requisite and prerequisite of discipline which is “Obedience to your Superiors and Consideration for your Subordinates”.

Gentle further expressed his gratitude to Minister Benn, noting the helpful and cooperative nature of the minister in working for the good of Guyana.
He recalled that on many occasions, Minister Benn, during his former portfolio as Minister of Public Works, assisted him in his work as a firefighter.
These occasions were during the 2005 floods, the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital fire, and other fires on Regent Street, Georgetown.