National Security Minister Charles Savarin has requested publicly the services of the youth in the western district to assist fire officers as a new fire station in St. Joseph was officially opened this afternoon.
The new facility will be housed in a rented building, and will provide fire coverage and ambulances for the communities of St Joseph and the west coast. It is funded by the Government of Dominica.
According to Savarin, prior to the new station the west coast was covered by the Fire and Ambulance services of Roseau and Portsmouth.
During the ceremony for the official commissioning of the station in St Joseph this afternoon, Savarin said that the establishment will allow for a reduction in response time for fire and ambulance calls.
“This new St Joseph Fire Station will reduce the response time for fire and ambulance services. From in excess of half an hour to less than ten minutes in St Joseph and just a little longer in the west coast area,” he stated.
“The bucket brigade …which we have had to resort to will become less and less of a necessity… I would like to see young men and young women in the St. Joseph and West Coast areas offer their services as volunteers so that they can be trained to assist the limited number of men at the new St Joseph Fire Station,” Savarin said.
The minister informed that the station will be equipped with a first aid fire tender and an ambulance whereby six fire officers will be stationed in the first instant.
He added, “This will grow to 11 as the new recruits are trained and deployed. In due course, a fire station will be built in St Joseph in a strategic location and the Lands and Surveys Division has already begun to look for such location.”
“…I have no doubt that the fire officers who will be stationed here from today will do all in their power to earn the trust respect and support of the people St Joseph and the entire West Coast,” he stated.
Previously, Parliamentary Representative for St. Joseph Kelver Darroux expressed concern in the number of bush fires on the west coast during the dry season.
“It is very important that we have the ability to respond to emergencies which will save lives and contribute to the better care of persons,” he stated.
Darroux had earlier called for support of the fire officers assigned to work in St. Joseph.
The Ambulance was donated to the people of St.Joseph by the canadanies as a token of appreication.
@The Third Side:
I think you misunderstood my point. ‘cost’ here doesn’t mean money it refers to the overworked firefigters who work 24hr shifts with sometimes two guys in a station and now we are to use this same work population to facilitate a new station. i believe that new firefighters should be employed to help the problem. no where else in the world is a fire dpartment with less than 100 men in an entire country. Think about it. and this has nothing to do with corruption I think it is a well deserved move.
very true@interested
Great move indeed. I tell it like it is so this was a long time coming therefore the government deserve to be applauded. Senjo is mostly a shanty town and heaven forbid we have a fire in some of those couweihs and professional help is not readily available. Again good job labor
Positively Dominican you must understand that allegations will always remain allegations no matter how often repeated. All of these allegations must be proven eighter in court or with concrete evidence.
Thanks to the Government for placing a fire station in St. Joseph with two fire tenders and one ambulance after decades. The people on the west coast with breath a sigh of relief.
Congratulations to the Government
The people of the western villages have been complaining for a long while. I think all of Dominica deserve this essential service. Cheers to the Government of Dominica. Keep it up.
hhhmmmm….weh!!!weh!!!weh!!!
I think I missed something. Logistics: planning, training, and implementation? There is something that I am missing. Water outlets (hydrants), water trucks,etc… I am missing something…Are we still using water pumps? Before you can effectively fight fire, you need to have easy access to water; or some other form of fire retardant. Logistics??? I believe strategically placed hydrants will alleviate a lot of stress on fire personnel. I am missing something. Water, pressure, hydrants…
If we have pumps that must be placed in a river, then we may still be using the “bucket brigade” method. The investment must be long-term. Now, let us send our future fire fighters for basic training before we hand them a hose. Fighting fire effectively is not something you learn on the fly. We are talking about people’s lives. I am missing something. Someone needs to educate me on logistics…Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok. I am going to be an optimist and say that this is the beginning stage.
It is good for the west coast …
Progress continues – but this will not distract the focus in DA today, of allegations of corruption and more corruption.
Concerned Dominican
@interested: What do you mean at what cost? Is that the new political grab ..”what cost”
Its at a cost to the tax payers….we pay the fire fighters….like you didn’t know that.
Bravo!!
I am very happy that this station is being opened but at what cost?? It is very unfair that the same overworked staff who work 24hr shifts have to now split and be used for the new station. More people should be employed within the fire department to facilitate this change.
congratulations