12 new trucks for Fire Service

Yesterday, Deputy Fire Chief Kenny Gopaul said the Fire Service was promised 17 new trucks and for the year, five were already been delivered.

He said that the additional 12 should arrive in the country in the coming months and will be sent to stations in Woodbrook, Morvant, Maraval and Tobago.

According to Gopaul, the Service has been plagued by chronic shortage of working vehicles with many being down for repairs indefinitely.

He said it was only through diligent management of work-worthy vehicles at stations across the country that firemen were able to respond to all reports from the public without problems.

Gopaul also revealed that there are over 500 support vehicles in the fire service and added that auxiliary fire officers who are trained are expected to be absorbed into the regular fire service shortly to deal with some of the shortages.

Yesterday, Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon confirmed the arrival of additional fire trucks into the country and said that government was working assiduously to improve the efficiency in the Fire Service by ensuring that they are fully staffed and are in possession of vehicles to properly serve the public.