THE Guyana Fire Service is set to enhance its firefighting capabilities through the establishment of a new fire service outpost at Timehri’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
The decision to construct the outpost came after a visit and inspection of the airport’s access routes by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, and Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham, on Monday.

In the coming weeks, engineers from the ministry will conduct another inspection to initiate the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) process. Following this, the project will proceed to the tendering stage.
The forthcoming outpost will be built on the recently expanded runway, situated in a hangar to the south of the London Army Base. The objective of this endeavour is to reduce response time at the airport.

This facility will not only improve the agency’s services in the country, but also generate employment opportunities for firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). There will be a forthcoming recruitment drive for these positions, followed by subsequent training.

This new outpost underscores the government’s commitment to safety and emergency preparedness, ensuring robust fire and rescue services to support the expanded airport infrastructure.
It is also part of the Home Affairs Ministry’s plan to build fire systems near crucial areas such as airports, schools, markets, and other busy places.

The Home Affairs Ministry received a budget approval of $44.8 billion in this year’s National Budget, aimed at bolstering the nation’s security sector. Out of that total amount, an allocation of $4.3 billion was given to the Guyana Fire Service.
A total of 505 million will be allocated towards the refurbishment of existing fire stations and the construction of new ones. The fire stations situated in Leonora, Diamond, and Bartica have been earmarked for completion by the end of this year.