CONSTRUCTION is currently ongoing at the $648 million Fire Service Headquarters with some 20 per cent of works completed thus far and the contractors are expected to meet the April 2023 deadline.

The major investment will see the relocation of the Central Fire Station from its Stabroek Market location, due to the massive congestion in that area, to Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

In 2021, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, disclosed plans to have the headquarters relocated to Homestretch Avenue to promote easier access as well as to accommodate the new firefighting resources procured by the government.

He said that,with the new equipment being brought in, a new layout is needed as well as modern architecture, to improve the efficiency of the fire service.

The new fire station is being built on three and a half acres of land. The relocation of the Central Fire Station has been a topic of discussion for some years now. It was recognised that the Stabroek Market area had been radically transformed since the fire station was constructed and the future development of the area was also a factor that led to the decision to relocate the fire station.

Minister Benn had also disclosed that the maintenance sections for the fire tenders will also be moved from the West Ruimveldt Fire Station to Homestretch Avenue so that the main activities of the fire service will be in one place.

“There were congestion issues at Stabroek and the government has been bringing in new assets, new fire trucks, and so on. There are also the emergency management system and the ambulances so we know that there is a need for more space. Also, there is a consideration that the city itself has been expanding eastwards and southwards so the location at Durban Park will help to provide a better balance in terms of being able to reach some locations,” Minister Benn had said.

In the 2022 budget, the sum of $47.9 billion is allocated to the security sector, $100 million is allocated for installation and repairs of fire hydrants across the country, in order to ensure adequate water supplies in the event of a fire.