The Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Retirees' Association says the era when a single appliance could sufficiently cover emergency management has long passed.
And the Association asserts it is now “time for the Ministry of National Security to provide the Fire Service with ample funding.”
In a press release issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Kean M. O'Brien, following the deaths of Junior Minister Lisa Morris-Julian and two children in a house fire on Monday, the Association said that zones now cover hundreds of thousands of lives and homes.
O'Brien explained that the increased funding would not just be for upkeep, “but would also allow for the expansion of coverage capabilities to meet the rapidly growing population and expanding housing stock.”
"It is extremely unfortunate and painful, that it would again take the tragic loss of life to thrust the dire consequences of the consistent under-funding of the Fire Service arm of the National Security division into national scrutiny," the Association said.
The former fire officer wanted to make it clear to those in authority that if TTFS members cannot efficiently and effectively discharge their duties, no one will be able to pick up the slack.
He said the Association stands “in solidarity with their serving brothers and sisters” and appeals to the authorities to consider a meeting on the expanding needs of the TTFS, “to prevent such unfortunate but preventable tragedies from occurring ever again.”
