Fire Service legislation being revisited, says Home Affairs Minister

THE legislation which governs the Barbados Fire Service (BFS) is being revisited to respond to the particular demands of the 21st century.

Word of this comes from Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Edmund Hinkson.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) 2019 Conference and Expo at the Accra Beach Resort and Spa yesterday, he admitted that the BFS Act has existed without any substantial reform or revision since 1961.

“We are at the level of my Ministry, with input from the management of the Fire Service and the Association of Fire Service Officers, actively preparing a new legislative platform for delivery of fire services, in order to modernise and position our Service in line with current practices in the profession,” he indicated.

“We have to ensure that our legislation facilitates the transition of the Service into a comprehensive fire management and secure organisation, which will allow it to ultimately be more responsible to the demands of the public in the 21st century.”

Additionally, the Minister revealed that the Barbados Fire Service is now under a brand new Protective Services Commission (PSC).

The PSC, which was recommended decades ago in a Constitutional Law Commission led by Sir Henry Forde, was finally brought into being last month, encompassing the protective services of Barbados – police, fire, immigration, customs and government security guards.

“This constitutional initiative is expected to ultimately permit a more effective regime for the personal advancement and promotion of fire officers and of course other matters.”

Minister Hinkson encouraged the senior fire officials from across the region to re-engineer their workflow processes, pointing out that more thought and work has to go into computerisation of their activities and use of more technological innovations, as well as to introduce and maintain a consistent diet and relevant training.

“My Ministry of Home Affairs recognises that embracing technology is an integral part of the modernisation process and is looking forward ultimately to the assistance of the Ministry of Innovation and Smart Technology in our country in this regard,” he said, also urging them not to become complacent, but to pursue their unwavering commitment to the true representation of fire and emergency service professionals within the region and further afield. (TL)