Fire Service in need of more training, assets for oil & gas emergencies

The Guyana Fire Service is being strengthened to respond to any emergencies in the oil and gas sector, according to Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham.

During an interview with the News Room, Wickham highlighted that more ranks are being trained while more assets are being procured.

“The fire service is capable…we are also developing. We are doing training locally, and also plan to do overseas training to deal particularly with oil and gas”.

“Even the resources that we are acquiring will lend support to that…It is intended that we use those pieces of equipment with the necessary training…to build capacity so that we will be able to respond positively to any such event,” Wickham said.

Additionally, a new fire station will be constructed at Wales, on the West Bank of Demerara, where the new Wales Gas-to-Energy project is being established.

“There is development. We have but we are getting more resources which will strengthen what we have already,” Wickham said.

Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn had earlier this year urged the GFS to come up with a 10-point plan to manage future challenges given the country’s rapid development in the oil and gas sector.