Roseau City Council, Fire Services receive equipment

The Fire and Ambulance Services and the Roseau City Council are recipients of a US$18,591.89 worth of life saving equipment, five chain saws and four generators thanks to the Australian High Commissioner and the Dominica Association of Local Authorities (DALCA).

The donation is the result of an agreement which was signed between the two parties when the Australian High Commissioner made his first visit to the island recently.

Addressing the handing over ceremony at the conference room of the Local Government department on High Street, Chairman of DALCA, Yoland Jno Jules, said the organization works closely with many institutions seeking assistance for different institutions in Dominica.

“We had a meeting with the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and hence the results of the items that you see here today as a donation from the Australian Government which we call the Australian Direct Aid and that is to enhance community capacity and preparedness,” he said.

According to Jno Jules, the chain saws, and generators will go to the areas such as Loubiere, Newtown, Bath Estate and Cockrane, and the Fire and Ambulance services will receive rescue ropes and other emergency equipment.

Local Government Commissioner John Fontaine said that it was a joy to continue the partnership that was initiated between DALCA, the Dominica Red Cross, the Dominica Fire Service and the Office of Disaster Management.

He said the equipment will assist the state of readiness of communities in events such as disasters.

“What is happening is a true testimony of the efforts that are put together by the different players to bring about the change that we require,” he said.

Acting Deputy Fire Chief, Jones Lawrence and Mayor of Roseau, Irene John, both expressed their gratitude and pointed out that the gears came at an ideal time when the hurricane season has just begun.