Fire Officers Receive Training

Contact: Rose Marie Harris

Monday, July 30, 2001 – Twenty-two fire officers from St. Lucia, Dominica and Barbados are attending a four-week workshop focusing on management and safety whilst fighting fires in buildings.

The Regional Intermediate Command Course, being facilitated by United Kingdom-based Fire Services International, began on Monday with remarks by Legal Affairs Minister, Honourable Velon John and Chief Fire Officer, Augustin Gaspard.

“ …. Fire fighting is a complex, dangerous and demanding discipline and when one considers this discipline in all of its ramifications, one sees the patent need for professional study on the highest of levels,” the minister remarked.  

“As we see it, personal safety, community security are a function of knowledge, competence and expertise.  Hence, it is incumbent on us as a government to improve or to provide the resources whereby the transformation of the service to an elite institution in all of its aspects can be realised and actualised,” he added.

Government is upgrading the St. Lucia Fire Service with an emphasis on improving human resources as well as the physical infrastructure which includes fire stations. In this regard, Government recently signed an agreement with Trinidad and Tobago providing for training for local fire fighters.

The overall aim is to improve the professionalism and operational efficiency of the St Lucia Fire Service.

The management aspect of the workshop covers leadership, time management, and motivation.  Successful participants will receive certificates at the end of the workshop.

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