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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Thursday, April 24, 2003 - The need for training of regional fire
personnel and accessing of such training is being viewed as paramount amongst
several matters discussed at the Caribbean Association of Chief, Deputy and
Assistant Chief Fire Officers, at the Cara Suites Hotel.
According to Chief Fire Officer of the St. Lucia Fire Service, Augustin Gaspard,
the association which was formed to take a unified approach in developing fire
fighting and emergency services in the Caribbean, is reliant on the financial
support of all the governments.
“While we agree that some governments have come on board and given us the
necessary backing, there are those who are yet to give us the kind of support
desired, as evidenced by the absence of some of our Caribbean colleagues.
Nonetheless, we will continue to persevere until all has come on board; for our
dream is for total representation, of all the islands of the Caribbean whether
English, French or Spanish,” said Gaspard.
Home Affairs Minister, Honourable Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, asserted that the
government of St. Lucia is very supportive of the local fire service and fire
services in general, as the full extent of the demands and risks involved in
carrying out their duties is fully appreciated.
“As our world because more and more technologically becomes sophisticated, with
more terrorist prone and increased environmental challenges, and the increasing
hazards associated with air, sea and land traffic, we in the Caribbean need to
take our fire and emergency services more seriously,” Minister Flood-Beaubrun
explained.
The participants will seek to address imperatives such as uniform, equipment,
training and communication before their Annual General Meeting concludes on
April 26. 2003.
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