DECLARING open the Caribbean Association of Fire Fighters (CAFF) meeting on Monday Home Affairs, Minister Rohee assured that the government of Guyana will continue in its efforts to capitalise the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to ensure that the organisation is capability to provide quality, effective and efficient service to the people of Guyana. The meeting which drew fire fighters from across the Caribbean was held at Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
Rohee told the gathering that in Guyana, the government has over the years, saw it fit to provide resources to the GFS in keeping with the Fire Services’ Strategic Plan, which, has been submitted to Cabinet for consideration and for the requisite funding.
He noted that in this regard, the government has allocated resources for the construction of a modern training school which will be made available to Guyanese fire fighters, as well as others within the region, who are members of the CAFF.
Rohee said that more recently the government has agreed to increase the strength of the GFS by from 427 to 511 and further its fulfillment of its Hinterland Strategy of GFS the government has provided GFS with fire fighting equipment for five communities in the interior.
He stated that the GFS has also benefitted enormously over the years in the provision of assets, but over the past six years, fire stations have increased from eight to 14 across the country and moreover, 29 additional fire fighting vehicles were added to the fleet of vehicles of the GFS.
He added that the government has also facilitated the introduction of specialized training for Guyanese fire fighters from experts of the United Kingdom and the Auxiliary Branch of GFS was also re-established and is a permanent feature of the organisation.
Rohee said: “I have noted the aims and objectives of CAFF and believes that it is laudable and I compliment, you the members of CAFF, since it is a challenge in itself but there is the potential, energy and vision to ensure that the aims and objectives are realised.”
He stated that there are many difficulties in forming CAFF such as the financing for growth and expansion of development for the organisation, accessing modern fire fighting equipment in our various territories, and training.
Rohee added that there are also other aspects that pose challenges, such as, the provision of medical care to fire fighters in the eventuality of injuries while doing their duties.
He said: “It is a fact that the CAFF have engaged not only in training of its ranks in the various territories but also engaged in training of its citizens in their respective territories in fire prevention and I have no doubt that the CAFF will find the requisite ways and means of formulating programmes to facilitate the training of ranks across the region, as well as, people in the respective territories.”
Meanwhile, Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle, in brief remarks emphasised the need for a rigid regime of training for ranks of the GFS and also called on CAFF to draft some form of accreditation for fire fighters in which they can be recognised worldwide.
He called on the gathering to develop mechanisms to sustain their fire fighting organsaitions and to look at a common training form for that level of acceptable standard to sustain the fire service, in which a rigid training regime can be effective.
“In Guyana as I always say to my Caribbean brothers and sisters, we have a unique history of our commonality of sharing where all uniformed services meet at one time in one grouping to discuss security and public safety. This has been happening for more than 20 years, gives model to work on and improve, and I task the CAFF to formulate some level of accreditation, whereby, our fire fighters go through some formal process of accreditation and it is recognised around the world,” Gentle said.
The Chief Fire Officer however, noted that CAFF remains a resolute, relevant, and relative body in agreement that still shares the common goal of working for the betterment of fire fighting in the region and ensuring that the fire fighting capabilities remains an optimum and on par with others around the world.
Gentle said, “We all share the same faith as professional fire fighters but is just that we operate in different territories and share the same types of “problems” in the Caribbean and we must resolve to bring about change to bring our organsations up to par of what is expected norms and standard established around the world. We must also resolve in ourselves to reach those standards but we must share commonality in our thought process.”
He also welcomed the group to Guyana and pledged the GFS support to the meeting and wished for a fruitful deliberation.
However, President of CAFF, Alex Bynoe said that most of their Caribbean fellow fire fighters are absent because of the Redjet airline flop since they had a good deal but some may make it before the meeting ends.
He however, noted that from the look of things the CAFF meeting seems fruitful and since Guyana has always been supportive and it was Guyana’s request that the meeting be held here this year.
Bynoe added too, that Guyana Fire Service (GFS) have always made training of fire fighters a priority and with the construction of the GFS training facility it will boost that effort for both local and overseas counterparts.
Also making remarks was CAFF General Secretary, Sharon Nicholson and GFS Divisional Commander, Compton Sparman.