Fire service thinly spread on East Coast, West Demerara
- retired firefighter tells Disciplined Forces Commission
Stabroek News
September 8, 2003
The work of the fire service is hampered by inadequate resources, which leave both citizens and firefighters exposed to dangerous situations, says a former fireman.
However, Herman deSouza, the former head of the Timehri Fire Station, told the members of the Disciplined Forces Commission on Thursday that with the available resources, “the Guyana Fire Service is doing a remarkable job.”
The Commission of Enquiry was set up by the National Assembly to review the operations of the disciplined services, including the Fire Service and make recommendations for their improvement.
Justice of Appeal Ian Chang chairs the Commission which includes former Attorney General Charles Ramson SC, former National Security Adviser, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, attorney-at-law, Anil Nandlall and Irish human rights activist, Maggie Beirne.
Among the concerns highlighted by deSouza, who addressed the Commission as a representative of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), was the limited number of fire stations, which were trained to respond to emergencies. deSouza cited the East Coast of Demerara as an example of an area left virtually unprotected. A station is based at Ogle, but it is responsible for the monitoring of the Ogle aerodrome on a 24-hour basis. However, in cases of emergency, tanks from GUYSUCO have been used, although deSouza pointed out that the personnel were untrained. A similar situation exists on the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara, where the station at Leonora is the only available response unit.
As a remedy to this situation, the GPSU has proposed that the structure and strength of the Fire Service be reviewed and established on a regional basis.
Staffing of the service, deSouza considered, was also grossly inadequate and again as an example he described situations where tenders might be summoned to respond to an emergency usually leaving the stations unmanned and unable to respond to other calls.
In addition to this, he also noted that another area which needed to be examined was the acquisition of protective gear, such as clothing and respiratory equipment, commensurate with recent technological developments.
In support of his arguments he cited the dangerous and disastrous situations to which firefighters were exposed because of the very nature of the profession. He said he was aware of colleagues who were suffering from unknown ailments as a result.
The other recommendations of the union include the creation of a training school for firefighters throughout their careers; the provision for fireboats to protect wharves and vessels in and away from port, the renovation and maintenance of fire hydrants and the clearing of canals which provide an alternative water supply.
On this last recommendation, deSouza, said most hydrants were either entirely inoperable or damaged. Further, he said the Fire Service conducted quarterly, half-yearly and yearly hydrant checks, the findings of which were submitted to Guyana Water Incorporated which was responsible for their renovation and maintenance.
Meanwhile, deSouza was also critical of the disciplinary code governing the Fire Service, describing it as “obsolete,” and legally inapplicable.
The service is still subject to the provisions of Regulation 54 of the Police Force Act under which the British Guiana Police Force and the British Guiana Fire Service operated. The union has recommended that the disciplinary code, which it negotiated with the Ministry of Home Affairs, be implemented and enforced to regulate members of the service.
The union has also recommended to the commission that firefighters be allowed to maintain their rights, as other workers, in the determination of their terms and conditions of services through joint negotiation and collective bargaining.
The service is represented by the GPSU, which is presently locked
in a legal battle with the Home Affairs Ministry over the deduction of union dues, a practice discontinued by the ministry in May 2002. The case was last fixed for November 15 and has not been called up for hearing since.
