Chief Fire Officer, Gregrory Wickham, has responded to claims made by Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed, over the state of the Fire Service Headquarters and poor treatment of Fire Officers.
Earlier this week, the Opposition Leader said he has received complaints from numerous Fire Officers about the lavatory and other facilities at the Fire Service headquarters not being in working order, compromising the safety of the staff. In some cases, the Fire Officers are forced to fetch buckets of water for use in the washroom facilities.
But in a video recorded statement, the Fire Chief said the Administration of the Guyana Fire Service and the Ministry of Home Affairs have been paying great attention to the welfare of staff members, as well as their health and safety.
He noted that indeed challenges exist at the new facility, but reminded that it was a company once headed by the now Opposition Leader that constructed the building.
“I wish to make it abundantly clear that from the moment we began to occupy this structure, our Headquarters, we have encountered several deficiencies and issues and overtime we had to be fixing in order to ensure our staff have a good working environment. Such issues including leaking roofs, cracking walls and glass, and several times we had to be looking at the fixtures in our lavatory area, the plumbing work we had to be effecting repairs over the years. I wish to make it very clear that this building was constructed by Mohamed’s enterprise,” Wickham said.
The new Fire Service headquarters was completed over three years ago and handed over to the Fire Service following inspections and approval by the same Fire Chief and officials of the Home Affairs Ministry.
But according to Mr. Wikham, after several defects were observed, the Home Affairs Ministry decided to put tender for critical works to be undertaken, including overhauling the lavatory area.
He said that contracts have been awarded and the works started last week.
“The Guyana Fire Service has made tremendous strides in ensuring that our staff, we are equipped, ready and fit for purpose to respond to any emergency. I therefore, must let you know that our staff are being equipped with their personal protective equipment, they now have breathing apparatus set that would allow us to work in an environment that would not normally support breathing. We have many new fire tenders and we have also been extending the service,” Mr. Wickham stated.
Wickham said the Guyana Fire Service takes pride in its work and take pride in looking out for the welfare of staff, promising that he will ensure that the staff have a good working environment, so that its work can withstand scrutiny.
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