Fifty school desks, 44 sets of clothes and 39 pairs of boots and gloves for firefighting as well as beds, mattresses, walkers and other things used in the rehabilitation process were handed over during a simple ceremony last week at Guyana Fire Service (GFS) headquarters, Water Street and Cornhill Streets, Georgetown.

Making the presentation, Liaison Officer at the U.S. Embassy here, Major Tyler Fitzgerald said the donation is another way of building the bilateral relationship with this country.

He said the gifts had been used in training local firefighters last year, as part of the U.S. Southern Command Humanitarian Assistance Programme.

Fitzgerald said the trainers realised that GFS needed them as soon as some became available and the shipment and funding was facilitated through the U.S. Southern Command.

The coordination by the U.S. Embassy is one aspect of the integrated approach to help the Guyana Government increase capabilities, he pointed out.

The GFS recipient, Acting Fire Chief Carlyle Washington said the gesture would afford local firemen better protection as the service was in need of such fire fighting suits, heavy duty boots and gloves.