A new fire tender has been delivered to the Roxborough Fire Station, strengthening emergency response capabilities in Tobago.
The handover ceremony took place at the Scarborough Fire Station and was attended by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ansar Ali was delighted to have a brand-new fire tender assigned to the Roxborough Fire Station.
“This vehicle, ma’am, is not just a vehicle; it is a promise that has been kept to the people of Tobago.”
Valued at TT$11.5 million, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar noted that the vehicle is one of six recently purchased by the Government to supplement the Fire Service throughout the country.
“There will be more in due course because nothing comes all at the same time. We say promise made, promise kept, and at our budget yesterday we are saying more to come.”
The decision to assign a new fire tender to Tobago, particularly Roxborough, was wholeheartedly welcomed by Member of Parliament for Tobago East and retired Divisional Fire Officer David Thomas.
“The evolution that we are seeing tonight is one that we appreciate greatly. It means that in the scheme of things, Tobago is recognised, Tobago is catered for and more so, the Tobago East constituency and may I say also that this station is in the Tobago East constituency.”
The handover ceremony took place at the Scarborough Fire Station, which has remained out of service since it was severely damaged by fire in 2019.
THA Chief Secretary said, “Now all that is needed is just a suppression system, a kit room and the floor to be redone. That is all that is required, and you would be able to move out of the renting and save the money from renting to put towards more fire tenders.”
The Prime Minister revealed that TT$7.355 million of the national security budget has been allocated to the fire services in Tobago.
“I have heard your pleas, and I will take your pleas because he also heard it, the Minister of Homeland Security, and let us work together to see what we can do and how fast we can do it to get this station up and running.”