Georgetown : The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) on gradated 93 males and females, after they successfully completed three months of intense training, at the service’s newly constructed training complex, at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
The young recruits were exposed to both theoretical and practical skills throughout their training. Some of the areas covered were the organisation’s structure and the Standing Order of the service, discipline, fire service equipment and their operations, fire behaviour and discipline, and other practical aspects.
Station Officer, Clive McDonald, noted that much emphasis was placed on the fire fighting skills and capability of fire fighters, thus enabling them to save lives and minimise the loss due to destruction by fire.
He said that one of the major challenges encountered was the recruits’ ability to comprehend fundamental principles, associated with the operations of the fire service. He however, explained that with much dedication and help from the staff, they all endeavoured to strive for excellence.
During an address to the recruit, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, said that this event was historic, in that it marked the graduation ceremony for the first set of recruits to receive training, under the Fire Service Training Facility.
He urged the recruits therefore to exercise discipline, commitment, dedication, honesty and courage, as they execute their duties. Minister Rohee also charged them to work hard and be proficient in their skills and abilities as these are necessary for the execution of their daily duties.
Meanwhile, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle mentioned the importance of training, even as the fire service is moving assiduously, to take its place as the premier emergency response service in Guyana. “I say to you the recruits, that your task is a noble one and your functions are simple … first to save lives and then to protect property from destruction by fires,’ Gentle told the recruits.
He also cautioned them about the many criticisms that may come their way on a daily bases, and urged them to use those to propel them to do their best at all times.
He said that the facility surpassed its expectations, noting that initially it was only able to accommodate 60 persons at any one time and yet it successfully accommodated 93 students, and this is quite significant.
Awards were also presented for the Most Improved Student, Celborne Rodney; Best Practical Knowledge Student, Kawise Rice; Best Drill Student, Roderick Hamilton; Best Runner- up Student, Grace Paul; and Best Student, Trevor Fraser.
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