Cabinet has made a decision to have 280 auxiliary fire officers absorbed into the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services to assist with its current understaffing issue.
Following the closure of the Petrotrin Refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre in 2018, a number of fire officers were called out to man the fire stations at its headquarters and other areas of concern.
According to Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, the government has taken notice of some 280 auxiliary fire officers and decided to have them absorbed into the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services. He said there will be no major cost to this process.
“After speaking to the Chief Fire Officer, his concern is the understaffed of those persons there under his command. The shortage at this time is 420 as of this month.”
Minister Alexander also said that they are currently undergoing a re-evaluation of equipment possessed by the TTFS to ensure they have appropriate and adequate resources to successfully service members of the public.
He also commented on the report pertaining to former Member of Parliament for D’Abadie/O’Meara Lisa Morris-Julian, which, following legal guidance, will be laid in Parliament.