10 Jan Guyana Fire Service gains $81.8 million in vehicles

The Ministry of Home Affairs has invested $81.8 million in vehicles for the Guyana Fire Service to help improve capacity.

The vehicles were handed over by Minister Robeson Benn to the Guyana Fire and Emergency HQ and include a $14 million excavator; a $32.7 million excavator (wheeled) trailer; a $11.7 million SUV, three pickups with a total value of $22.7 million, a $495,000 motorcycle and five bicycles totalling $125,000.

Minister Benn said: “These pieces of equipment will be used to enhance our firefighting in various areas. The excavators would be used to do clearing of debris when there are fires, also it would be used in the exercise that we go about planting hydrants around the country and so it becomes very vital for us to have that equipment within our arsenal.”

The excavators will be very welcomed after the fire service had to resort to using privately-owned excavators to clear debris after a huge blaze. They will be used in the installation and repairs of fire hydrants across the country.

“The first place where we could make the asset available, of course is in the central areas, Region Four and along the banks and coast …. eventually we’ll get to the other places,” Benn added.

The three pickups are destined for Regions Two, Four and Six. While the bicycles will be placed in the same regions to help transport junior ranks, equipment and other items to the fire station and fire scene. The motorcycle will be used for the same purpose and will be deployed to Region Nine.