"Fire Service in a precarious state" - Desmond McKenzie

The opposition Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) spokesman on Local Government Desmond McKenzie has reacted to reports that the country's fireboat has been out of commission for more than a month.
    

RJR News reported that the boat, located in the tourist resort town of Ocho Rios, has been out of  service due to mechanical problems.
McKenzie says the Government does not appear to understand the importance of  having a fire boat.

He adds that the absence of  the boat and the inability of  the country to respond to a fire at sea speaks to the precarious state of  the fire service.

"We are asking tourists to come here, none of the cruise ship piers in Jamaica areequipped to deal with fires...what about the outer part of those areas that affect the lives of t he Jamaican people? There has to be some urgency. Some priorty must be placed on obtaining even one fire boat," he said.
 

Acting Commissioner of  the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Errol Mowatt, says the Government will have to find at least J$3 million to repair the vessel in Ocho Rios.