The Tribune

By TIMOTHY ROBERTS

Everything is eventual. 

It is a harsh reality that is inescapable. Your choices and your indecisions in life will amalgamate into an increasingly large, and impossible to avoid, consequence.  

Politicians seek election, and the power that comes with successfully acquiring the majority’s confidence. That power and the how they determine to use, or misuse, will ultimately accumulate, or fester, into consequences for those they represent and serve (in theory) over the course of an administration. 

Unfortunately, these consequences are borne by the country’s citizens for better or worse. 

The country’s fire services is one such issue that has long needed addressing and seems to be at the bottom of the list of priorities, if on the list at all. 

Firstly, let us understand fully that fire services are vital for public safety, protecting lives and property from the destructive effects of fires and other emergencies. In some cases firefighters not only extinguish fires but also provide a variety of other critical services like rescue operations, hazardous materials handling, and even medical assistance in some cases.  

In short, fire services is an essential service for a safer population. 

The current state of fire services 

Looking first to the capital, Nassau, recent major fires have revealed an extremely concerning situation unfolding that leaves the most densely populated island at substantial risk.  

When fire destroyed the Hyacinth Stuart Building and surrounding commercial properties three weeks ago fire services appeared to be poorly resourced. At the time Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles indicated that all the island’s fire trucks were at the scene; this amounted to a grand total of five trucks that are a part of the fire branch. There was also assistance at that fire from the Airport Authority’s fire apparatus. 

Just five fire trucks in operation on the island of New Providence where about 280,000 people live. Does this sound sufficient to you? 

Let us add a little perspective. The Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire Department currently has six (possibly seven) fire apparatus consisting of fire engines, and tankers (for ferrying water) and they serve the Central Abaco area with a population of about 12,000. 

These are truck that government has not provided, nor donated any money or provided any grants for. The only thing they may have done was provide a duty exemption for the vehicle’s importation. 

Let us look again at New Providence. Three weeks after the destruction of the Hyacinth Stuart Building, Cost Right and Solomon’s there was another major fire, this time in the old rundown buildings on Bay Street near Elizabeth Street. 

Two fire branch fire trucks tackled that fire. Eventually, Airport Authority sent fire apparatus to assist – closing the airport – but only after fire had already spread to other buildings including a large apartment complex leaving dozens homeless. 

There are many criticising the government and the fire branch after these recent major fires, quite rightly so. But let us take a step back and look at the bigger picture, to see the larger problem. 

Decades of neglect 

The Family Islands have long relied on donations of finances and equipment from the United States and the visitors who have come to love the communities that they frequently visit. Concerned citizens come together and with some help have learned to defend their selves, homes, and communities from threats of fire.  

However, each community is not equal. Some communities have more outside help and others have more willing and able to donate their time and effort to this dangerous activity. 

In New Providence, the quantity of fire engines in service has declined, and it is unknown (as I write) if they have sufficient trained personnel available to efficiently tackle any, and all types of fire they may encounter. 

We may well point fingers at the fire chief and the firefighters, and certainly the burden is theirs to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and techniques, but if we understand correctly, the fire branch does not command its own budget. 

The Ministry of National Security is the current ministry that oversees the the Police and Fire Service, and it is they and every iteration of the ministry before them, that has allowed the lack of sufficient support for fire services to fester into the current problem we see today. 

To exacerbate the problem that everyone can see, the current Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe does not believe there is a problem. 

“I have not had a report from them yet that they have lacked equipment to contend with any of the blazes that they have encountered thus far,” Mr Munroe said Sunday. 

Maybe the fire chief has not made Mr Munroe aware of the dire circumstances they are in, or maybe he just does not want to see it himself. 

Coincidentally, Latrae Rahming, director of communications at the Office of the Prime Minister, said Sunday that the government is acquiring 15 to 20 fire trucks, with some earmarked for Family Islands. 

If there is no known issue with the Fire Branch’s equipment, why are we ordering 15-20 fire trucks?  

Mr Munroe also added that officials have already identified the required equipment, including tankers, ladder trucks, and pumpers, and are working with suppliers to finalise price estimates and orders but, he stressed that delivery could take time, explaining that firefighting vehicles cannot be simply bought off the shelf but must be custom-built. 

“It’s an emotive issue, but it’s something that persons have to be rational about,” Mr Munroe said. “There’s no magic wand that you can go and find a showroom of fire equipment available like that.” 

And Mr Munroe is at least right in that fire trucks are specifically outfitted by order, but if the fire chief did indeed not tell him that there was need, why are they already (according to the OPM) ordering 15-20 fire trucks? 

We are definitely hopeful this is not just Munroe’s normal pithy way of defending and deflecting from factual issues. 

Equipped for a better future 

There is a great need in all Family Islands and New Providence to properly equip, resource and train fire departments. It will make better, safer communities across the entire country. 

Government ultimately ought to be leading the charge and should not have to wait for the charge to fix this mess come from angry citizens demanding better as threats of fire come closer and closer to ending devastatingly. 

Residents of Victoria Courts could have arguably still been living safely in their homes; but we are thankful today that no one was injured, and they at least have their lives; although severely disrupted. 

Herein lies the danger though. Today it was a loss of property. Just as in Abaco these past weeks so much forest, and few properties razed by fires, but thankful no life lost. 

Everything is eventual, though, and if there is continued neglect the consequences – as avoidable as they could be – will arrive. 

There must be urgency to deal with the issues before us. Equipment, if indeed ordered and on the way, is a great start. But the people must be trained, and the apparatus and their knowledge must be maintained and expanded to ensure a safer tomorrow free from the consequences of neglect.