As part of government’s ongoing investments to the Guyana Fire Service, one water bowser, one airport rescue firefighting truck, two water tenders, and two ambulances were on Tuesday handed over to the Fire Chief, Mr. Gregory Wickham.
The Government of Guyana expended over G$178.6M for the purchase of four of the appliances, while Angloco Limited in the United Kingdom, the supplier of the appliances, donated two (2) water tenders valued at G$28M.
The airport fire and rescue firefighting truck will be attached to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.
“We have a new and importantly an airport rescue firefighting vehicle. This new one here is intended to bring the Eugene F. Correia International Airport to category four (4) for the aerodrome firefighting, the appliance we have had there, has fallen behind standards which are necessary”, Minister Benn affirmed.
He further stated, “Eugene F. Correia International Airport is perhaps the busiest airport in Guyana and perhaps in the Caribbean, not only for internal flights to our mining and forestry and other areas or tourism areas but also in respect of regional flights in the Caribbean, so the frequency of flights here is extremely high. And we need to have the readiness, the capability and the engagement in respect to responding to questions of the possibility of an incident involving fire and rescue”.
The ambulances will be used to expand the Emergency Medical Services to Regions 3 and 5, according to the Chief.
Mr. Wickham noted that so far for the year the EMT delivered 12 new babies so the additional ambulances will lend more support and Guyana Fire Service will be better able and equipped to serve the Guyanese populace.
Minister Benn expressed his gratitude to His Excellency President Irfaan Ali and the Cabinet for the support which was critically needed and for their great interest in preventing and mitigating the occurrences of fire and also in the Emergency Rescue Service.
The small handing over ceremony included an inspection of the appliances and a demonstration of the airport fire and rescue firefighting truck took place in front of the Ministry’s Secretariat.
