Piarco Fire Station over budget, behind schedule

THE Piarco Fire Station is five months behind schedule and $4 million over budget.

This was disclosed to the media yesterday by fire officials during a tour of the construction site by Minister of National Security, Howard Chin Lee. Chief Fire Officer, Lennox Alfred, told reporters construction began last September and the station was supposed to be completed this month. However because of several issues which arose, there was a delay and the new completion date is January next year. Alfred confirmed the cost will escalate. He said the initial cost was $18 million.

However his representative on the project at the Caroni North Bank Road, Fire Substation Officer Ian Green told Newsday the initial cost was $16 million and the final cost is expected to be $20 million. Alfred said the new station will be up to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He explained that the minimum requirement was that there be three major vehicles operating at one time. He assured there will be equipment at the station. “We have some under repair and several on order, which will augment the strength to ensure we maintain the international standard at all times.” Those vehicles will include “two major vehicles, one medium range, one full-strike appliance and one tanker, including two ambulances and a utility vehicle.” Green said the estimated cost of the new equipment will be $17 million. He explained the delay in the completion of construction was due to the fact that plans had to be redesigned.

He said original plans put a part of the two-storey building on the compound of the Airports Authority Administrative offices, which is located to the side of the current building. The AA offices were supposed to be relocated but Green said because they have new developmental plans, they are to remain on the site for another year. Alfred told reporters the current fire station was prepared to deal with any emergency. He said if an accident occurred at the airport, “appliances from the Piarco station will be sent and we have backup response from Tunapuna, Arima and from Headquarters in Port-of-Spain.” Chin Lee said he was impressed with the building, describing it as one of the “higher standards in the Caribbean.” The station will also have administrative offices, training and storage rooms and a refuelling station. NIPDEC is the project managers and Bull fabricators are the main contractors.