Caribbean News
JAMAICA: St. Elizabeth Fire Division Commemorates 85 Years of Service
Montego Bay, November 2, 2019 – Jamaica – The St. Elizabeth Fire Division on Wednesday (October 30) commemorated 85 years of service to the parish with an open house at the Black River Fire Station. The event coincided with the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s (JFB) National Fire Safety Awareness Week, being observed from October 27 to November 2 under the theme ‘Mek Wi Fix It – Community First’.
Firefighters from across St. Elizabeth engaged in a parade and march-past throughout Black River and attended an awards ceremony, during which several long-standing and upcoming members of the JFB were honoured for exemplary service.
A commemorative scroll erected at the front of the station, which acknowledges the division’s 85 years of existence and the selfless service rendered by firefighters over the period, was also unveiled.
In his address, JFB Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, Kevin Haughton, singled out firefighter, Okar Walsh, whom he said played a key role in extinguishing a fire that ravaged more than 250 acres of farmland in the community of Flagaman in August.
“His actions assisted greatly in saving lives and preventing further damage to property,” he stated.
Mr. Haughton said members of the St. Elizabeth Fire Division have been working gallantly, adding that he anticipates they will continue to carry out the mandate of the JFB in a professional and responsive manner.
For his part, JFB Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for Area Four, Floyd McLean, extended an invitation to stakeholders to forge public-private partnerships with the Brigade that will serve to further improve fire safety and awareness across the parish.
“Come on board and let us, from the 85th anniversary going forward, develop an even more ideal situation for our firefighters,” he said.
St. Elizabeth has three fire stations, which are located in Black River, Junction and Santa Cruz.
Contact: Okoye Henry
Release: JIS
Photo Captions:
Header: The Elite Platoon of the St. Elizabeth Fire Division performing a march-past for fire service and other stakeholders during Open House at the Black River Fire Station on Wednesday (October 30), in celebration of 85 years of service in the parish.
1st insert: Jamaica Fire Brigade’s (JFB) Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, Kevin Haughton (left), and Councillor Donald Simpson unveil a commemorative scroll mounted at the front of the Black River Fire Station during Open House on Wednesday (October 30), to commemorate 85 years of service by the St. Elizabeth Fire Division.
2nd insert: Firefighter of the Black River Fire Station, Okar Walsh (left), accepting an award for selfless service from the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s (JFB) Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, Kevin Haughton, during Open House on Wednesday (October 30) in celebration of 85 years of service by the St. Elizabeth Fire Division.
Okoye Henry Photos
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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