Minister of National Security the Honourable Stuart Young, M.P., and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security Mr Vel Lewis met with members of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Executive and Fire Service Association at the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Headquarters on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, yesterday, Wednesday 5 September, 2018.
Present were Ag Chief Fire Officer Roosevelt Bruce, Ag Deputy Chief Fire Officer Marlon Smith; Ag Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mervyn Layne; Ag Assistant Chief Fire Officer Clunis Wallen; Ag Assistant Chief Fire Officer Siewnarine Ramsaran; Brigade Engineer Arnold Bristo; Ag Divisional Fire Officer Ramdeo Boodoo; and Ag Assistant Divisional Fire Officer Dexter Hodge.
Representing the Fire Service Association were President Fire Sub Officer Leo Ramkissoon; General Secretary Fire Sub Officer Ashton Cunningham; Deputy Secretary Ag Fire Sub Officer Marcellus Simon; Assistant Secretary (North East) Fire Fighter Keon Guy; Assistant Secretary (North West) Fire Fighter Dereck Hosein; and Deputy Treasurer Ag Fire Sub Officer Seon Raphael.
Minister Young and Permanent Secretary Lewis toured the Fire Service’s compound on Wrightson Road along with the Fire Service Association (Second Division) led by Mr Leo Ramkisson; Ag Chief Fire Officer Roosevelt Bruce; Ag Deputy Chief Fire Officer Marlon Smith; and other members of the Fire Service Executive. Following the tour, a productive meeting was held with both the First and Second Division Association Officers.
The tour and meeting lasted for about three and a half hours. The discussions included the question of open communication channels with the Ministry of National Security and addressed some of the priority issues affecting the Fire Service including matters pertaining to Auxiliary Fire Officers and the improvement of fire stations in need of urgent attention.
Minister Young and Permanent Secretary Lewis gave an undertaking to communicate again with the fire officers within a short time and to provide responses to the matters raised.
Minister Young takes the opportunity to formally thank all the men and women of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service for their dedication and commitment to Trinidad and Tobago.