LISA MORRIS FIRE REPORT STILL HIDDEN

[00:00:00] Speaker A: The best insight, instant feedback, accountability. The all new Talk Radio Freedom 106.5. [00:00:08] Speaker B: This is the president of the Fire Service Association, Mr. Karen Guy. Keon. Guyon. Karen is Karen Rhodes. Mr. Keon Guy. And he's in the building with me this morning. You know, whenever I'm talking with the fire officials, it's usually Jude Rogers with me inside Safety Mondays. However, we have a very serious topic to discuss this morning and no doubt we want to make it very animated and of course we may invite some of you respectful callers to call and weigh in on the problem. Let's talk a little bit about why you're here this morning. [00:00:38] Speaker A: Oh, well, good morning again and good morning to the listeners. It's my pleasure to be here. So the Fire Service association has been vocal in previously and even now about the need for us to have some transparency and especially in the light of the response of the fire service into the. To the incident that led to the death of the Minister and her children, MP Julian. Yeah, Marjulian and her children last December. Yes. So we know that the Minister of National Security launched investigation on the advice or instruction rather of the. Of the Prime Minister. And despite receiving that report more than a month ago, the content of it is yet to be made a public. We at the Fire Service association believes that the lack of transparency so far causes us some serious concern as to the contents and the findings of those investigators. We believe when it comes to public safety, national security matters and matters that affect the general public, that if there is indeed some type of systemic issue within the fire service that needs to be remedied, then let's make it public and let's treat with it as opposed to what seems to be occurring is the burying of our heads in the sand. [00:01:57] Speaker B: All right? Now your colleague and my co host Jude Rogers has extended good mornings to you as he's locked on and listening. So Jude, Good morning to you. Jude. I'll be back soon, Jude. And we'll be having our show as per usual. Now let me ask you a question, Mr. Guy. Let's take the average or the normal fire and I say normal here because according to what I know from one officer, one very intelligent officer, not that the rest isn't, but this one, you all are very intelligent and it was said that every fire is preventable or avoidable. [00:02:38] Speaker A: Well, the aim of the fire service in modern times and in the trend Tobago Fire Service has to be focused upon fire prevention. [00:02:47] Speaker B: Right? [00:02:47] Speaker A: That's our main role, that's the main rule. [00:02:49] Speaker B: So we want you to avoid avoidable fires. Right. So here's my question. When a fire occurs and the investigators go out, how long does it take for you all to find out the cause of the fire? [00:03:07] Speaker A: Well, it really depends on the scope, the scale and the type of incident. [00:03:11] Speaker B: Right, but put a pin, and I don't mean to cut you here, but I need to, I want to break down the science of this thing. Let's talk about first and foremost, what can cause. What are the various causes? A fire, a person, house burned down, maybe a bushfire, wildfire. What are some of the list of things that you can think of right now of the top that will cause a fire? [00:03:31] Speaker A: Well, the fire service has about four classifications of causes of fires. Good. And one of those is the accidental incident. And that could come about in various means. So you can have an accidental fire that started as a result of faulty electrical equipment, maybe a faulty electrical conductor. In this case, you may have an accidental fire that started because somebody left an open flame unattended like a candle. You could have incidents that you have, you know, and it's happened in recent times in certain industries where we've had welders engaging in a job cutting and so on. And that also led to incident. So that's accidental. So there's accidental, there's incendiary, whereas, you know, persons more know it has arson. We speak to throwing some type of flammable or applying some type of flammable substance object to ensure that the fire develops. There's also a classification as undetermined. And that's generally when we have a lot of challenges in actually isolating or determining the general area or room of origin. So those are the general causes of fire, so to speak. [00:04:40] Speaker B: Now, you have just itemized these classes of fire. You have just told the public, you know, when a fire occurs, it's one out of these things. It's nothing foreign, nothing ufo, no UFO coming down from space and burn the place. It's one of these things. We just don't know which one. Yes, because we need to investigate. But somewhere along the lines we can see this right now, as you mentioned, it can take. The timing is variable in terms of how long an investigation takes. A postmortem is done to determine the cause of the blaze. Now, does the association, did the association see it prudent for the government to get these to put together a committee to investigate this blaze of the late mp? [00:05:28] Speaker A: Now, the death of the MP and her children was, let me say this, extremely tragic. It was. We saw the outpouring of love and concern from her constituents and even from her partner parliamentary colleagues, both on both sides of the aisle in parliament. So the death of any citizen of Trinidad and Tobago is one that requires an investigation. And indeed the fire service carries out investigations in every death by fire. In fact, I would say with every incident of fire, there's investigation. We and the association, however, has been calling for investigation into the fire services response and its ability to meet mandate in general. Right. So we. What we would have liked or preferred, and we would have thought would have been much more helpful for the organization is a deep dive into exactly what is going on into the fire service. Because we have been long highlighting the administrative challenges within the fire service, the shortage of equipment, personnel and so on. So we would have liked the ministry and the minister to put the resources towards a true audit, so to speak, of the organization in itself. However, given that it took this incident for the minister to wake up and they at the very least call for investigation into this particular matter, we welcome it. And if indeed public resources was utilized in carrying out this investigation, we believe that the public should be the ones who should be reported to. And again, as I said before, if there are indeed systemic challenges, issues that are identified, let us know, let us be aware, Let the fire officers become aware, let members of the public become aware so that they can know how better to protect themselves and the fire service officers can know what changes are required to ensure that we can continue to deliver a 21st century type of public safety protection to members of the public of Trinidad and Tobago. [00:07:24] Speaker B: And I think that's a very, very crucial point that you made there because what is the sense of. You mentioned it was a very tragic incident that happened in the Republic. It was tragic. You remember that fire in Maraval where there's of course. Right. [00:07:39] Speaker A: Can't forget it. [00:07:40] Speaker B: You can't. Right. [00:07:41] Speaker A: Horrific. [00:07:41] Speaker B: Yeah, that was also horrific. Right, now we. We making this talk, this conversation, because it's the MP Akasi. But why would the ministry after receiving the final report on this matter, keep it secret? What benefit is it to them? [00:08:03] Speaker A: And that is what is the question concerning for us within the Fast Service Association? Because when the minister at the time, when there were a lot of concerns and the minister described it as public disquiet on the issue, he gave that as one of the reasons that they launched investigation. So if your investigation was launched as a result of the public disquiet, reason would follow or it would be reasonable to think that the consequence of that is that you will come back to the public and report as to the findings. Because the public would have been the one saying we are concerned about this. We've heard the Fire Service association, we've heard fire officers from all walks of life indicating even the retirees fires. The retirees Fire Service Association, Retirees association, pardon me, Dan. All spoke out on the shortage of equipment and appliances available to officers. [00:08:52] Speaker B: But before we get to that part, because I come into that part with you, right? Did now these individuals who were contracted by the government to launch an investigation, was that investigation done parallel to what you all do per normal, meaning every fire service will you all have investigators, Right? Right. So you all go out because you all have different rules and functions. So the fire happens. It have the men come out and extinguish it, settle everything, keep public safety and then the investigators go out. When that process took place, were you all running? Was it a separate team? Because I'm thinking here, if the ministry, if the ministry would have issued these three to get findings on this matter, was the fire service running a separate their normal routine of finding out? [00:09:40] Speaker A: Of course, that's a mandate that the Fire Service Act. [00:09:42] Speaker B: Right. So then the fire service has. Do you think it's going to be two different report to what the fire service would get to what the Minister has? [00:09:48] Speaker A: Well, you see the report that the fire service would produce and that is our investigators attached to the fire prevention department that Mr. Rogers is also attached to. Those officers returned to the scene, they were at the scene on the day of the incident and they returned, I believe 24 hours later when the scene was a little more safer. And they conducted the investigation and those officers look to determine the cause of the incident. That is what the scope of their investigation is limited to the cause. So that we can then advise members of the public or maybe through the electrical inspectorate or standards, what changes need to be done, what legislative changes or otherwise needs to be implemented to ensure that a similar incident does not reoccur. However, what the Minister highlighted about 9 or 10. Right. Different objectives of this special Bruce led committee and their goal went way beyond the scope of the fire service investigators. That is why we are interested. Their goal actually went into the response of the fire service. Whether the fire service responded and did all that they could have done, whether the response was timely, what equip, what equipment was available, whether or not there was an appliance at Arima Fire Station, whether or not the Arima Fire Station, as we would have stated in our press release the day after the incident, whether or not that the crew at Arima Fire Station was another incident as well, which is factual. They were on another structural fire at the time. Right. Which contributed, we know, to this death. But whether or not the first responding crews had breathing apparatus sets, another issue that we've been identifying for several times or not, that would have hampered the ability to effect a rescue. So these are some of the things this committee was asked to look into. And it's the reason their report, their findings need to be, you know, shared with fire officers and with the general public. We need to know what transpired. [00:11:46] Speaker B: Yeah, we need to know, and I agree with you. Now, within the last couple of years or so, were you all able to get any equipment from the Ministry? Was anything purchased? [00:12:00] Speaker A: I can say, as an officer who works on the lines, who has a network of fire officers under my command who provide information to us timely, we can say that these shortages that we've reported over the last few years continue. There have been no real change over recent times. Right. We look at the budget and what was provided for the fire service for the purchasing of equipment and appliances. We believe the organization continues to be woefully underfunded. For instance, for appliances, the fire Service was allocated $4 million, the cost of. [00:12:37] Speaker B: One appliance, $4 million. [00:12:39] Speaker A: $4 million to the purchase of new vehicles and the fire service, the cost of one appliance, so you can put this into context, is approximately $4.8 million, I would imagine. Yes. So we juxtapose that against the other allocations that we saw for various things in the office of the Prime Minister and other ministries and so on. And we question, are the resources of the country, the limited resources, as the Prime Minister continued to say, are they being properly utilized and channeled into emergency services, or are they being directed into other programs that may not be not only sustainable, but whether or not it will be the members of this country, the citizens of this country rather, are deriving true benefits from it. We would think that emergency services should take the priority when it comes to funding. And despite the cause of the Fire Service association and the Fire Service for years, we have not been adequately funded. And a visit to the nearest fire station would demonstrate that. [00:13:44] Speaker B: You know, the thing about it is this. Have you all sought audience with the Minister and his ministry to get this report made public? And what was the response? [00:13:55] Speaker A: We have attempted to communicate to the Minister of National Security on several occasions since taking office In December of 2023, roughly about a year ago. We've had no short of, I would average seven to 10 documents, letters, correspondences that we sent to the minister and the minister has refused to acknowledge any whatsoever. He has not received, he has not taken any calls from us. He has refused to acknowledge, he has refused to meet. And he only speaks usually the. And he uses the opportunity when he speaks to the media to call their Fire Service association representatives and fire officers, all sorts of names. He's used names like alarmists and Confucianists and Bacchanalists when describing the officers who have highlighted the health and safety concerns that they have had, which we believe as a Minister of national security responsible for providing those resources to the fire officers is unbecoming. It's concerning, it's disheartening and it's demoralizing. So we've made several attempts to reach the minister and every time he has not failed to react or respond in the same manner, that is to totally ignore any correspondence sent him. [00:15:01] Speaker B: Does he see the Fire Service association as a unionized body or something? Is that. I'm getting that impression because normally when a union, you know, coming towards the. Towards management, you know, it's something to benefit the employees that management property. So is. Do you think that the ministry. I'm just acting your personal view. [00:15:21] Speaker A: Even if that is the case. Right. Those training management will understand that you're always advised to engage with the representatives of the workers, the representatives of the person who you're asking to take up the responsibility to carry out whatever function that be, whether they're working in a car manufacturing plant or in this case, fire officers. So despite the minister recognizing us as an association or somebody who might be combative, the point is that we represent the views of the fire officers within Trinidad and Tobago. And if the minister is truly concerned about the national security of Trinidad and Tobago, he's concerned about public safety in general. He will engage with the fire service professionals. And we are not only an association, we are an association of absolute professionals who have experience and qualified in a number in various areas related to fire safety, fire engineering, science for fire protection, fire investigations and so on. And when we lend our voice to the conversation, we lend it and we speak from a position of authority and a position of knowledge. We are not here to just cause bacchanal or confusion, but it is, we believe it's absolutely foolish to expect officers while our lives are under threat, and that is what is happening right now, while the lives of the citizens of this country are under threat to remain silent. We don't believe. Believe that that is acceptable, acceptable whatsoever. We believe Our role and our function here is to speak up. [00:16:50] Speaker B: Can you speak on the issues as to. According to one text today, how many. [00:16:53] Speaker A: Oxygen well ceiling tanks? No. [00:16:56] Speaker B: Breeding apparatus. You all have breathing kits? [00:16:58] Speaker A: Yes. So that's the more accurate name, the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus sets. So we have long highlighted this issue in Trinidad. I would say that we have approximately 20 sets for use throughout Trinidad and of course we have none in Tobago. [00:17:14] Speaker B: Wait, wait, back it up. We're in our tournament. [00:17:18] Speaker A: Yeah. We have approximately. That should be no shock to anyone. [00:17:20] Speaker B: This is the breathing apparatus kits. [00:17:21] Speaker A: The breathing apparatus kits. [00:17:22] Speaker B: You have 20. Didn't the minister say something recently? There was some acquisition to purchase. [00:17:27] Speaker A: Yes. And they've been providing the public with a bunch of. Let me say it in a different way. Right. It was kind of unfortunate to hear the minister time and time again speak on the issues of bringing up Protestants. And it seems as though every time he's asked to speak on issues affecting the fire service and in this case the BA sets, his memory seems to have failed him in every situation because he continued to provide inaccurate and false information to the members of the public. [00:17:54] Speaker B: Could it be that he was advised of this? [00:17:56] Speaker A: That very well may be the case. But if you are being advised from one party that indeed the fire service is well equipped and there's another party that is the Fire Service association and fire officers who are actually the end users of this equipment, indicating that there's a shortage, a severe shortage, a shortage that has now reached a level that is putting fire officer life and the public's life at risk. Then we would think that the minister would want to have a discussion with the officers of the Fire Service association and he has failed to do so. So we are saying that he seems to be comfortable going, whether it be to the parliament or to some other radio station or program and state publicly that the fire service is well equipped. He has used his office to provide political coverage not only for himself but for his party, to the detriment of fire officers who become injured. Myself, I remember. I remember fire officers and members of the public who have lost their properties and in this case of the minister, the children in Maraval, the family in. In Siparion and throughout this entire country, everyone. And they have lost their lives. So if the minister is really concerned about these things, he will reach out to the Firestores association and acquire the real information, accurate information from us at Freedom. [00:19:12] Speaker B: I do hope he does. But you have given something that is very troubling to me right now and I'm trying to wrap my head around it. But you are the president of the Fire Service association, so I have to. I not have to. I am trusting what you are telling me here, but I can't wrap my mind around it. You're saying 20 breathing apparatus, 20 functional beer kits that the fire service currently has, that has to be distributed across Trinidad and there's none in Tobago. [00:19:41] Speaker A: None whatsoever in Tobago. So there's an incident at the airport, at the new ENR Robinson airport, or the existing one. The fire officers there, their capability or ability to respond is severely hampered. If there's a house fire, structural fire and all those fires you're seeing in Tobago, those officers are responding and they have been responding for now more than two years without a single braiding apparatus set. And that is the case for a majority of fire officers throughout Trinidad and in tobago because those 20 sets are inadequate. Let's say it's 30, right? Let's give the fire service another 10. What we require is in excess of three to 400 sets to ensure that every fire station and every officer responding to a structural fire, a car fire or any incident that creates an environment that is not sustainable to life, that these officers can don their sets and perform a rescue, that they can don their sets and protect people's property, that they can don their sets and protect themselves. [00:20:39] Speaker B: Themselves. Because they need to return home. [00:20:41] Speaker A: Yes. [00:20:42] Speaker B: You know, this is. This is very startling and unsettling for me right now. [00:20:47] Speaker A: You know, it's unsettling. And fire officers continue. I mean, I am permanently scarred as a result of the injuries that I sustained on 24th September, 2024. 2023. [00:20:58] Speaker B: Sorry, 2023 is over a year. I remember you were hospitalized for a while. [00:21:02] Speaker A: I was hospitalized and I was on injury leave for extended period of time. And now permanently scarred, not only physically, but psychologically, mentally as well. [00:21:12] Speaker B: Ptsd. [00:21:12] Speaker A: Yes, yes, of course. [00:21:13] Speaker B: Trauma. You remember that. You know, sometimes I would imagine basic things happen in our lives, you know, little things that happen in our lives and we are scarred by it. You could imagine what you have been through. I would have seen you, I would have read your story. The thing about it is this. I hope Trinidad and Tobago listening and outside of Ni beer. This is something that is so important because this is oxygen. This is me running into a smoke filled room, a building or house to try and grab a child, an infirmed individual, an elderly. And this is what I need to run in there quickly and bring this person out. And while I'm doing that, I may not be able to save this Structure but the surrounding structures we can contain this. And I don't have that, you know, outside of that. What else? Because I was told by one officer, I can't tell you who but the person mentioned to me that. Davy, can you highlight this? They don't even have the correct size of uniforms. They had challenges with that. [00:22:19] Speaker A: Not just the sizes but just to ensure that they are high enough. [00:22:23] Speaker B: And that's the next thing I was told they get is a wash and wear off the line on your back so to speak. And you have to come to work and respond to your different colors with blue, your different watches and however hours you know and the is. Is off the line in some instances all the dryer on my back and I gone and I had like two. So it's wash and wear rotate and so are going. And I work in different. And I wouldn't. And then even when the. They explained that in the fire the stations they would. You would see kits next to. Next to trucks. [00:22:59] Speaker A: Yes. [00:23:00] Speaker B: And it's just to get in it. You have 30 whatever determine the whole nine yards and get on the truck. That kit that is on the floor on the ground in the fire station set most times you would see it if you're driving, you want to know the washing clothes or what. But it's not that it's set for an emergency that doesn't even fit properly. The size is always bigger and you see the. And the kit itself is a cumbersome one. And then it doesn't have your. [00:23:27] Speaker A: Yes, they've had their challenges. Our stores department. I know they've now attempted to incorporate some form of technology to ensure that when they are making feature purchases that they can purchase the right sizes for officers. But despite that again, I'll go back to the allocations for purchasing equipment and uniforms and it's woefully inadequate. And despite right now the major concern is no longer the sizes. It's just availability of anyone big, too big, too small. It doesn't matter. The fire service is severely challenged. And these things are not just uniforms. These are our personal protective equipment. Safety boots for the station wear, gloves to the hands of officers, structural firefighting gloves, helmet goggles and of course the breathing apparatus sets. We can mention the shortage of equipment as well. I'll mention the shortage of ladders. Functional ladders. All right. [00:24:20] Speaker B: But I gave some wooden ladders the other day. [00:24:22] Speaker A: Functional ladders. There's an inadequate supply of. [00:24:26] Speaker B: So Keon, what's happening with the. With the wooden ladder situation? Let's go back to that Very quickly. I mean that was a. A huge thing. Fire officers going. A wooden ladder. It didn't seem. And. And then who authorized it. It was a whole fiasco on that. You know. Tell me about that wooden ladder thing. What, what is happening with. Is it there to pick mangoes now in the yard? [00:24:50] Speaker A: Majority of the ladders are not in use and for good reason. The officers have identified a lot of shortcomings with the construction of the ladder. There is a concern that the ladder indeed was modified in some way and not by the manufacturer in a way that we believe does not that put the officers health and safety at greater risk. This came. Well, this became more evident in, I believe it was March of 2020. A female officer who attempted to conduct a drill with the ladder. In fact, her test was seriously injured and she almost. She suffered some injuries to her hand and she still continued to remain on leave. So officers would have been seriously injured and of course the fascists would have lost man hours as a result of these wooden ladders. So officers have taken the position that rightfully so again that they will not utilize those ladders. Given the several concerns that I have highlighted. The Fire Service association has reported our concern with the ladders to the Health and Safety, Occupational Safety and Health Authority. We have also informed the employer, the chief fire Officer. We've asked for those ladders to come out of circulation as well. We are aware that both the Auditor General as well as the name slips me right now, but the Auditor General and the Integrity Commission launch investigations into the acquisition of those ladders. And we. That's another report that we are yet to see. Nor have we been informed whether or not the investigation in itself has been concluded. And we are interested in finding out exactly what their findings were. Of course we are concerned about corruption and the allegations of corruption within the fire service, especially when they lead to or can lead to the loss of life or in this case the injury to fire officers. [00:26:47] Speaker B: Tony. [00:26:50] Speaker A: But if I was to just go back to the number, to the equipment that we lack. Right, the breeding. I mentioned the breeding apparatus sets, the ladders and as well as add the humaturas, which some know as the jaws of life. That's a critical piece of equipment. [00:27:05] Speaker B: You're lacking that too. [00:27:06] Speaker A: Yes. And throughout the 25 stations throughout Trinidad and Tobago, we have approximately five functional sets in circulation. So majority of fire stations are without such a critical component. So Kian, critical tool, I would say. [00:27:24] Speaker B: Kian. What are you telling me that when these fire officers go on out to respond to an RTA and most times the Jaws of Life is used it's on an rta. Yes we have challenges there. [00:27:36] Speaker A: Yes we do severe and even the stations that have the sets are kind of on their last There's a When. [00:27:44] Speaker B: Last did you all get a purchase order made for the Jaws of Life equipment? And the Jaws of Life consists of the I'm talking about all the power. [00:27:53] Speaker A: Tools that you all need is a. [00:27:55] Speaker B: Number of tools is a number of. [00:27:56] Speaker A: Tools that make up with hydraulic pump. [00:27:58] Speaker B: With hydraulic pumps when last was a purchase order made for that and do you have any in Tobago? [00:28:03] Speaker A: Well what I can see that I have not seen new sets distributed in approximately a decade now Hence the reason we are where we are as I said before it has been a systemic and deliberate attempt policy of defunding and underfunding the fire service and it is quite evident now and any visit to the fire station, any fire station and if the minister, if the prime minister, if any member of cabinet truly is concerned and is heartbroken with the loss of the life of MP Julian they will take a visit to the nearest station within their district and they will inquire to these to the tools and equipment that are available and they would recognize that a lot of the lockers and those appliances are empty. So the so there are for instance let's look at the Northern Division. Five out of the 11 stations do not have firefighting appliances and those stations that actually have appliances have a very severe shortage of various types of equipment. Too much to name here today. Also I need the entire next two hours or however long your program go on for the to really well I. [00:29:15] Speaker B: Open to ask permission to keep you after eight so we can engage the public to have I'm sure they have questions of course if you can give me a little 15 after the hour after 8 o'clock news it will be nice, you know so that we can engage the public and have them ask because they are in a state of bewilderment. They are listening to this to this interview and we will encourage you to call us after 8 if you have any questions. If not we wrap the interview soonest because this is a very, very busy gentleman and you know, we don't want to take up and waste his time. However, the information that he's disseminating this morning is a course and it's everybody's business. Do not think that this does not apply to you because in your 56 years on this earth you or your 35 years or your 83 years you never had to qualify a Service you personally. What about your friends, co workers, colleagues, relatives? Look, a gentleman lost two of his legs. [00:30:09] Speaker A: Yes. [00:30:10] Speaker B: Just like that, in an accident. [00:30:12] Speaker A: Could you imagine that? [00:30:14] Speaker B: That is I watching this and I'm like, they found one leg and then had to go back somebody. They didn't find the next leg yet. I think. I think they're still looking for it. [00:30:23] Speaker A: Yeah. The conditions I know are difficult, especially the time of the incident. [00:30:27] Speaker B: Exactly. [00:30:27] Speaker A: Yeah. And, you know, some might ask themselves how the officers may not have been able to locate the dismembered limb. But, you know, sometimes the incident is. Is over a period of several meters, tens of meters, so it's difficult to actually locate the general area, you know, to find where the limb might be. It could have been thrown any which way. [00:30:53] Speaker B: All right, so we have the president of the Fire Service Association, Keon Guy, here with us this morning. We're going to be inviting you to call us in a bit. I'm going to take a quick commercial break and when we come back after the 8 o'clock news, one of the things we're going to ask Mr. Guy to reiterate for us this morning is the importance of these findings and why this should be made public, how it relates to you and why you should have a vested interest into wanting to know what took place with our beloved MP, Julian Morris and her two children that perished in a fire on December 6, 2024. Now, I also want to talk to you on issues of a fire substation, because I don't understand it. I looked at a map in earlier times in Trinidad, and when you look at the general consensus of areas like San Juan, Sangre Grande, forget Grande for now, Valencia, even Arima, Tunapuna, those areas have increased drastically in terms of residents, not to mention commercial. But yet we are functioning on a substation, a one appliance. And is that one appliance like for Tinapuna station, it have one port, one appliance. Is that an equipment appliance or that is a water appliance? Because I understand that water trucks do have the room to carry certain equipment. So you have an equipment truck for that. So not all fire trucks, as he drive fire plants, is he driving all of them have water in it? No. The time has come for us to look at these things and I want to engage in that. Coming up. Good morning once again and welcome back. I have a question coming to you, Kian. I have a question regarding fire prevention. Would it be practical and sensible to have homes, houses fitted with smoke alarms and fire detection devices? They are hardwired or battery operated. What are your thoughts? [00:33:11] Speaker A: Yeah, of course, it's. [00:33:12] Speaker B: They're saying they've never seen any such devices in Trinidad. [00:33:15] Speaker A: Yeah, of course, yeah. And many different places that you can acquire them. So we recommend for the home that persons do indeed invest in some of these devices. They assist in what we call detection of the fires and early detection, which is what is required. In Trinidad and Tobago, our homes are on average about 25 to 30% smaller than the average sized home in North America. As a result, we have shorter times to evacuate and we are more likely to become trapped in an incident than they would. So it would mean that early detection is important so that in those hours where we are most at risk, during the middle of the night and so on, we can be awakened or alerted to a fire and we'll be able to hopefully be able to extinguish or evacuate with our loved ones. So battery operated is an easy one to maintain and install. However, we always would recommend hardwired devices as they would have that backup supply electrical power from body battery as well as from TNTEC supply on the hardwired devices. [00:34:24] Speaker B: You think that's the better one to use? [00:34:26] Speaker A: Yeah, it's ideal. [00:34:28] Speaker B: However, what if it have a power failure? [00:34:30] Speaker A: Well, that's the thing with the hardwired devices. They also carry batteries as well. Right. In each one. Right. So 9 volt small 9 volt batteries that could be changed out from time to time, but they are hardwired together and they receive their power supply from Tiantech. So in the event of a power failure it still has a battery backup as opposed to the battery operated ones. But there are some very good battery operated ones in supply now that use lithium ion batteries that will last you for more than 10 years. So they are very dependable and we recommend acquiring some of those and installing them in your living spaces, like your living rooms, family rooms, as well as any corridors leading to bedrooms or in every bedroom as well. [00:35:13] Speaker B: Well, this is, this is startling information that we would have been revealed on the program this morning, folks. Your news is coming up next and when we come back, we'll invite your calls with the president of the Fire Service Association, Keon Guy. He's in the building. Once again, good morning Trinidad and Tobago. Welcome Back to Freedom 106.5 FM. We are chatting continuously at this time with the Fire Service association president, Keon Guy. He's in the building. And now this time the phone lines are open for any questions or any suggestions recommendations that you all wish to make. And it's a very refreshing interview this morning. Startling revelations as well. I must add 625-2257 and 6273223. Those are the numbers to call. And. And you can also WhatsApp me at 306-1065. Greetings and good day. I firmly believe the intended registry resignation of our PM at this time is simply to muster or master smoke aimed at destabilizing. We talking fire boy? How do you come up with this boy? One of the laws in the Netherlands states that all homes must have a smoke alarm. If you do not have one, you can face a significant fine. Do you think the time has risen for us to do that? [00:36:31] Speaker A: Hello. [00:36:32] Speaker B: Hello. Morning. Good morning. We. Okay, talk to me. [00:36:38] Speaker C: All right. Well, I look young guy is the present president, and I've been following the fast foods for years, and it seems like we're running into the same situation. [00:36:50] Speaker A: Year after year after year. [00:36:53] Speaker D: Right. [00:36:53] Speaker C: And it seems like the government itself is stifling the fasting, especially when it's obtained somewhere. Now, Kian guy can tell me this is true or not. Right. My question is for Kian guys, right. In the interim, are we trying to solve the problem and getting the support from, whether it be the chief or the government or the hierarchy, what solutions could be put in place now to protect one, fire officers when we. When they respond into calls, and two, the public who is most at risk because the file service is underfunded, limited equipment, and technically don't have the resources to respond in the manner that they're supposed to. [00:37:37] Speaker B: All right, thank you very much. [00:37:39] Speaker A: Thank you for the question, Kola. So just to be a little bit more correct, it's not that we're running into the same problem, is that the problems of the past have never been rectified and they continue to worsen over time as any wound or any issue would if you fail to treat it effectively. Right. Since taking office, we have asked government to treat with the matters of the fire service as a priority matter. We did so by writing to the minister, even the prime minister at one point on a particular issue. And in all cases, they have failed to respond to us. Right. But the challenges we believe could be. The challenges we believe could be identified in the lack of funding to the organization. And we believe that it's not because the country doesn't have the finances available to fund the fire service, but it comes to what the government of the day wants to prioritize. And it clearly demonstrates to us so far that they don't Want to prioritize the fire service. Back in, I believe it was March of last year, there was an article that I read that John Public will die. And I was quoting a fire officer and his statements where he was faced with a dilemma at that time. And the dilemma was he had just responded to the incident where he had his entire crew was hospitalized as a result of the lack of breeding Alberta sets. And they became overwhelmed from smoke in their efforts to locate a reported missing person. So when they arrived in the scene in separate, the report given to them was that a member of the public was missing. And these officers with all breathing apparatus sets still went above and beyond and attempted to effect a rescue. And one of and all of the officers required to be treated by the hospital and one officer was hospitalized for a few days as well. So it is a dilemma for all fire officers throughout Trinidad and Tobago because on one end they're talking about the life of the citizens we have sworn to protect. And on the other hand, here you have where the officers are not being provided with the basic equipment necessary to effectively carry out their duties. So we see our dilemma. The officers are faced with. And unfortunately I am left with no other thought but that very chilling, you know, headline of the papers that morning, which was john Public will die. And in fact, we are seeing that right now. [00:40:05] Speaker B: You know, I. I don't know what else to say with this, you know. Good morning. Good morning. 625-225-711 Texter is saying that the officer's voice is so soothing and kind. [00:40:20] Speaker A: Oh, okay. [00:40:22] Speaker B: So my voice not soothing and kind. [00:40:23] Speaker A: I don't know if that's helping our cause or not. Hello. [00:40:25] Speaker B: Good morning. [00:40:26] Speaker E: Good morning. Once more, Devi and officer Jude. [00:40:29] Speaker B: Well, Jude is. Is listening, but you have Keon guy, which is the president of the fire Service Association. [00:40:36] Speaker E: Okay. President Judah was in my office recently and I was. Okay, but okay, fire officer. We are what we can call the earthquake season. If I'm to use that. Sometimes it's not very common, but sometimes an earthquake can cause electrical fires. What advice can you have for the population with regard to that? Safety measures and so on. I thank you, Joyce. [00:41:04] Speaker A: All right. [00:41:04] Speaker B: Thanks for your question. [00:41:05] Speaker A: Thank you very much. So, of course, yes, as the caller rightfully indicated, that after post any earthquake, they can lead to fires for various reasons, not just electrical, but you can have gas lines that will become broken and then you'll have a leaking of gases and so on. Or in this case, as caller mentioned, the electrical lines that, you know, lead to incidents. So there's not much we can do post that more than keep ourselves safe by ensuring that after an incident we have an investigation or not investigation but inspection conducted of our wiring and in fact prior to that we engage and that is to ensure that we. I believe the electrical inspectorate requires homes to be inspected every five years. Somebody probably could correct me if I'm wrong with that, but I believe it's every five years you're required to do an inspection at your home. And for industrial establishments I believe that's different. They require to do like high voltage testing and so on annually. But you can do that testing from time to time. Have a certified electrician, a wireman as they call them in Trinidad and Tobago come out to your home and do an inspection of your lines to ensure that you know, there are no loose connections that are likely be or broken insulation that could lead to fires and so on. Right. Whether it be post earthquake or just on the average day. [00:42:27] Speaker B: All right. Hello. Good morning, David. [00:42:31] Speaker D: Morning. [00:42:32] Speaker B: Morning Kels. [00:42:33] Speaker D: Morning, David. Now clearly the root of the TTFS problem is funding. Right? Now while government may not prioritize funding for you, a solution might be to form a partnership with these fed promoters, use the TTFS name as we had firefed before and a percentage of the profit goes to CTFS to offset some of your costs. That is one solution. A second solution might be to form a public private partnership with let's just say energy companies where you provide training or some sort of service and in return they provide financial remuneration or service, enough equipment or whatnot. So again to offset some of the costs, this is the avenue we need to be looking at to get financial assistance in absence of government funding. And if we don't do that, we'll have this conversation every Monday morning. Thank you. [00:43:53] Speaker B: Administer, you know, thank you very much for your. Were you described there? I While I appreciate you giving us a suggestion to the escalating and I'm saying escalating because it's not just ongoing, it's escalating because the equipment every day it continues to be used, it is deteriorating. So it's an escalating problem and what you asking these officers to do. While I appreciate the good thought and good nature of your of your sentiments, I do not agree because from one when we look at at what these officers are responsible for. I am not an officer Judas make my an honorary one, but I'm not one. I tried once and I realized what we had to go through and I said not me, Pat. I tried to lift up Randy and I couldn't make and then Randy had to go in a basket for me to put so the officers these are the Batman. The Batman and Batwomen of the world. These are your. Your Legion of Justice or your justice leagues. These are. These are the. The DC comic superheroes real talk. They go above and beyond. He has just described a situation where no B is and they ran into the building still at the risk. Not at the risk but the actuality of being hospitalized away from your family sick maybe long lasting injuries could have been cancerous with the different materials burning and the smoke inhalation. So to tell them go through a fundraiser partner with this one and they know how to while they had to continue to have a condition of trained minds to go and rescue persons and because it takes 30 seconds they have rules and how to get on the truck to get out to respond. And if you don't a life could be lost to now focus on finances to purchase equipment. I think it's a bit much. We're asking. [00:46:06] Speaker A: Of course we've had partnerships with corporate Trinidad and they have a role to play as well and they recognize that as part of their being socially responsible. But then they've. Exactly. [00:46:16] Speaker B: But that's not all you're trying to. [00:46:18] Speaker A: This does not again take away the responsibility from the state and again Trinidad and Tobago, those listening to my voice. I do not believe genuinely that there's an issue, a shortage of funds, but a prioritization of needs of Trinidad and Tobago. And what the citizens of China and Tobago have to decide is whether or not we want a fire service. Because what we are quickly descending into is an organization that might carry the name of a fire and rescue service, but indeed cannot carry the responsibilities of one. And that is what we are. That is the stage we have reached at the moment and we have to make that decision. Is the governance that we've received as it pertains to our emergency services, has it been adequate? And if not, then what are we as members of the public prepared to do as opposed to just calling on corporate Trinidad to step up to the plate more than they've already been doing? So what are we prepared to do when it comes to the government and how they allocate funding to the fire service? When we responded to the minister's debt in a Press release on 17 December, we highlighted a few items of the line items and the allocations that were given to the fire service. And as I mentioned before, our allocations for appliances was reduced from $11.5 million for the fiscal 23 to 24 to 4.5 million. Sorry, to 4 million for the period 24 to 25. And as I had mentioned and put it in context before, one appliance, one fire tender, cost this country $4.5 million. And for some, it may sound like a lot, but it is not just for $100 million. The government of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago can ensure that every fire station throughout Trinidad and Tobago is outfitted with an appliance that can handle the capability, can handle the responsibilities of first response, just for 100 million. And by our calculation, that is less than 0.2% of our annual expenditure. Zero for 0.2%. This problem can go away. So, yes, we would like to see corporate Trinidad play a bigger role and we accept the rule that they have been playing so far. However, this is for the government to step up, and in fact, this is for the public to step up and call upon our representatives to do better when it comes to the management of the fire service. [00:48:46] Speaker B: You know, I am wondering if this, if this is a governmental thing on a whole, meaning that past and previous regimes that would have entered the parliament and governed this country if they saw fire officers as important. You'll make a part of the national security arm. And what you have just highlighted, it's very, very disturbing. [00:49:10] Speaker A: Now, fire officers and the Fire Service association, going way back even then, under different presidents, would have always kind of mentioned the qualifier service, as well as the prison service, like the bastard child, children of national security. And that's because of the portion of the pie that we normally receive. [00:49:26] Speaker B: Oh, boy. [00:49:27] Speaker A: Oh, right. But over the past 10 years, the manner in which the organization has been underfunded, I would say is unprecedented. It has been unprecedented. [00:49:40] Speaker B: Hello? Yes, hello, hello, hello. 625-2257. You have a chance to get in on the. On the program quickly. Good morning. [00:49:56] Speaker E: Good morning, Officer there. Somebody raised the issue of raising funds. For example, you may get permission from the government to run a raffle or something. [00:50:10] Speaker F: So. [00:50:11] Speaker E: And you could raise some funds because since 2015. 2015, right. Every government department was running under capacity. I met public servants who told me they have to buy ink, they have to buy paper clips, they have to buy this around the office. So what I've been doing is people are using their own personal money to run government business. And I'm sorry, what I mean is a real tragedy is fire. You know, you have a flood, you could still escape from the water, but fire. Look how they're treating these people. Fire. And I'm sorry for that. But there's nothing we could do. I don't know what to say, but I know you need the funds. The Prime Minister got $50 million to blow. $50 million in our budget to blow. We don't know what any would not count. But the fire service, we need. We need. We need to care about our workers. We need to care body fire services. We need to care about the prison. We need to care about the policemen. They provide essential services. And the government, in my view, is not doing enough. Thank you. [00:51:19] Speaker B: Thank you very much. And the thing about it is they're not even allowed to protest. Good morning. [00:51:23] Speaker A: Hi. Morning. [00:51:24] Speaker B: Good morning. [00:51:25] Speaker A: Yes, it is so sad to hear the fire man. They are lamenting about the lack of funds when we are throwing money away. We throwing away money in $100 million. [00:51:38] Speaker B: Housing projects that have to be demolished. [00:51:37] Speaker A: $50 million for the Prime Minister to have parties. [00:51:46] Speaker B: $150 million could solve all the problems of the fire service. And that is just two examples of. [00:51:52] Speaker G: Wastage in this country. [00:51:54] Speaker B: Thank you very much. And I mean, let me take a voice note here I am. That's why I asked him to stay on, you know, and I agreed with the producers because this is something that we can't sweep under the carpet. [00:52:06] Speaker H: Morning. Morning. [00:52:07] Speaker B: Morning. [00:52:07] Speaker H: Morning. Again. All right. What my main question is this is that we have a. We have a crisis. Let me put that with a crisis. Right. What I want to find out is while the association deals with the government to try to fix the fire service, what can we do now in the interim to protect fire officers while we respond, why they responding? And also the public. Because of the lack of appliances and lack of equipment, there's going to be a delay in response. And I'm positively sure there's probably a problem with communication too. So bear in mind all of the problems at hand. How do we put something in place? No. While the government sorts out their business. [00:53:02] Speaker B: All right, you can respond to this one at least. What's your thoughts? [00:53:05] Speaker A: Yeah, it's difficult. I mean, it's for us members of the public file officers again to make that public call to put pressure on the government to do what is within their power to do. This is nothing that the government doesn't have the authority nor the funding to do. Right. However, they have not prioritized it because they've looked at other things. And I mean, it's time. And if you have an ex. Call to take right now. [00:53:25] Speaker B: Yeah, well, I think if you chance. [00:53:27] Speaker A: Yeah. So I'm just out of this to the conversation. Right to that fire, that particular fire, and for the report we are calling for to be made public here, what we would know forms part of that report or ought to have formed part of the report is a highlight. What further delayed the Tunapuna officer's response to that incident was the fact that their plans, that they had that tender, it's more than two decades old, right? They had to wait almost eight minutes in order for the vehicle to brake system to build up enough pressure to allow them to safely roll the vehicle out from the appliance bay and onto the roadway and to begin that 15 kilometer drive to Farfan street in Arima to extinguish that fire. Right? So already, and already not having an appliance or closer station in Arima, the response was further compromised by the fact that those officers, despite Dragons dressing in one minute, as you know, and you alluded to earlier, and being ready to leave the station, they had to wait an additional seven to eight minutes to wait for the vehicle braking system to acquire sufficient pressure to allow them to leave that station. That is not the only, that is not the only appliance in Trinidad and Tobago that has an issue. I would see that approximately 90%, between 80 to 90% of the vehicles that are being utilized right now that already served more than two decades plus some three decades. This is what is hampering our response capability. So the caller is right. Our response times are severely hampered. And unless we receive again immediate injection of funds from the government towards the purchase of equipment and vehicles, we will see more incidents like we saw in Santa Cruz, like we saw in Sapara, in Maraval and unfortunately in December on Farfan street in Arima. [00:55:25] Speaker B: Now, I hope you all are listening. I honestly hope you all are listening because I am sitting down, I am seeing the gentleman in studio with me. I'm very happy that he came in studio. We didn't do this over the zoom. And I, I, I can't believe the horror stories I'm hearing here right now, this morning. And I wanted to send a start. Well, boy, I didn't know what to call it now, right? But I want to send a message to the honorable Minister Fitzgerald Hines. It's time you wake up even if you're leaving office now, go out with our bang. Let me remember you that you heeded the call of the fire service department, the fire Service association and you and you get that that bastard child as the president alluded to, because that's why it's you more than a, you're not even a bastard child. No more use a child that we just help in the community. You be on a bastard child. We see you now and then and gear and honey and some hand me downs. Yeah, we children was going toss it to me. That's how I see the fire. That's the. That's how they look at it. Let me just take this one. [00:56:24] Speaker I: Hi. Morning David. David, the guy is so correct at the end of the day as he said, it's not a matter of funding. They have the money. It's just prioritized to get it done. You understand? Because if they could find money to pay 900 plus big wigs and extra they have money to save lives to put towards these, these important, obviously important services that supposed to be provided and given to the. To the population, you understand? If they could find $50 million to give the. The office of the prime minister as entertainment. They have money, they just don't prioritize what are they, what is supposed to be in front and what's supposed to be in the back. You understand you having 900 plus judges and, and CCOP and whoever, whoever get in this razor pay. They already did. Their business is already fixed. David. They're not antamout. If these guys and they had the proper equipment, don't you think that woman and her two children could have been saved? Don't you think we should we in a country where this the guy begging. He's actually begging for to save lives in the country. So the people who aspire to go in office, sits in office, collects the salary, beg some more on the salary and who die dead. [00:57:58] Speaker B: Good morning. [00:57:59] Speaker F: Hi morning. Yes, I'm trying to call to get into the the program here this morning. [00:58:05] Speaker B: You are on the program. So you live on here. [00:58:08] Speaker F: Okay. [00:58:09] Speaker B: Okay. [00:58:11] Speaker F: Well, okay. [00:58:12] Speaker A: So. [00:58:12] Speaker F: Hi morning. Yes, so yes, morning. Morning. Yes, so first of all I just want to say. Okay, so yeah, so basically what happened is that I just like to give an acknowledgment to President Guy who is heavily dedicated to the fire service and is intensely invested. A few things I want to say I'm just calling for the public to come out and demand accountability which will help Radio Personal I'm humbly asking if there is something you can do make a movement to join with the public because these debts have been too much. One death is too much. A death with two children is too much. Right. I'm also calling on the leaders. Whether you have done wrong or right, please be invested in and have a love for your fire service and let's make a better service and lastly, I'm not sure if this is something that is already a part of the association heads authority, but in order to ensure some of the funds are managed effectively, I make a humble suggestion. Let at least this association head have the authority to sign off on some of the critical purchases or some of the funds we place under his charge to ensure that the basic and necessary equipment for life savings, such as breathing apparatus sets for example, can be in our possession while we wait on other resources. Because this is going on far too long and it is time now that we come out and we do something about it is how can we just be left to fight fires? How can we be left to just hope that nothing happens? This is craziness. This is complete mayhem and utter nonsense and we can't be trivializing it down to the point of just a political debate with fancy, beautiful, smooth sounding words. We have to do better than this. Right? So I'm just calling on us to make a stand and to do better. Thank you. [01:00:10] Speaker B: All right, thank you very much. [01:00:11] Speaker A: I mean thank you caller very much. I think Nicola's point there is that what we need is a movement in Trinidad and Tobago. We need every citizen and that's why we make our press releases. That's the reason we go and do interviews, we come on stations like this TV is because we want the citizens of this country to partner with us of ensuring that we have the necessary. I agree to protect our own lives, Father sirs, and our families. We are citizens too. I have to go home and my home is located in an area where there's often no appliance even though there's a fire station less than two minutes away from my home. And I am going to sleep with that concern. You know, I am always assigned to the sour fire station when we receive calls in bland she shares Right. And then I'm going there to tampon down or just, you know. But the rubble, what once stood at somebody's home that invested entire life savings into it breaks my heart. It breaks my heart to know that when a call comes we hear persons trapped in a motor vehicle accident in Las Cuevas. And we know that's going to take us about 45 minutes to arrive then to engage in the activities, to then extricate that person. It's difficult for us to deal with, it's difficult for the fire officer. So the fire officers throughout Trinidad and in Tobago are faced with these challenges because we know our shortcomings, we know the shortcomings of the organization and it is extremely maddening. To then see the minister who is who he said his role is to ensure that we have the resources we need. Right. To hear him say that the file services sufficiently equipped, well equipped, in fact, is all the words and terms he has utilized to describe what is ongoing right now within the organization. And that could be, that could not be starkly different from the realities on the ground. [01:02:11] Speaker B: Hannah, you say 45 minutes, you know. [01:02:16] Speaker A: Yeah. That's how long it takes. [01:02:18] Speaker B: So we don't have a fire service up in the Maracas area? [01:02:20] Speaker A: No, we do not. We do not have any appliance, any fire station in the north coast at all. The nearest station is Santa Cruz Fire station. And that station has not had a fire fighting appliance for more than a decade. [01:02:36] Speaker B: Call us, call us whatsappers, listeners of freedom, the silent listeners, those who listen and are saying silent, those who listen, but they don't engage us in conversation, but they're always listening. I want the president to repeat this statement for your one more time and I will tell you why after I ask him to repeat this. Tell me again. We have no appliances where. [01:03:00] Speaker A: We have no appliances, no fire stations in fact to serve the north coast. So the nearest fire station is at Santa Cruz and that has been without an appliance for 10 years. So the next response comes from sour in any emergency along the north coast all the way up to Blanchard Shares and so on. [01:03:17] Speaker B: Right. Now you know why I said that to you all. It have cliffs. [01:03:22] Speaker A: Yes. [01:03:22] Speaker B: It have accidents that take place on the north coast. So I want. So when you all are driving now with this startling reality, you all will be more prudent on the road, more cognizant of your driving and take it down because you now know any difficulty you get into on that north coast road, you are roughly one hour and maybe 20 minutes away. Because if it takes them 45 ton hours I get to you, it still had to take 20 minutes mobilization between getting off the truck, getting equipment, locating where you are down the cliff or whatever your car going over before they can actually reach you, the physical human being and bring it out and then. [01:04:05] Speaker A: Ensure you are transported to receive advanced medical care. [01:04:08] Speaker B: That could take one or one and a half depending on if you're in Blanche. She says you're looking at 2 hours plus to reach you safely after the distress call is made. So you had to be grateful if the villagers around come out and help you. [01:04:22] Speaker A: Yeah. And, and I mean, you know, because it's not the only community so at risk. And you had, you had spoken to it. Just before we went to the, to the first break. Right. You had mentioned the substations and so on. So just pivot back to that discussion. [01:04:33] Speaker B: Let me take a break because I have some ads to play. Let me get these ads out of the way. And before we conclude this morning's program, I'm very grateful, president that you stayed with us. [01:04:41] Speaker A: It's my pleasure. [01:04:42] Speaker B: Thank you very much. We take a break. We come back with more. Once again, good morning Trinidad and Tobago. We just about 17 minutes on the upswing to the hour of nine this morning. Tosca Martinez will be gracing the studios in just about 18 minutes time or so to kick up with the human impact look out for the betterment show with bass coming up at 12 noon today. Of course today is actually what, Thursday. So you're gonna have diabetes and you. And then the overdrive. I think Kari will be holding for me this afternoon as I will be on assignment. So that is happening today as well. You can look out. That's the programming lineup. Keon. We are chatting with the fire service association president, Keon Guy. We've been chatting with him for almost a little over an hour now and we're grateful that he has stayed on with us highlighting and revealing some of the woes that's taking place within the fire service. And he's also lending some safety tips as well. When you ask, you know, but that's for Safety Mondays with Jude. And the thing about it is when we talk about built up communities years ago, you remember when I'm gonna bring it back a little bit, we're driving on the highway, the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Uriah Butler, wherever. And the speeding limit was 80 kilometers per hour. Yeah, that was the limit. Now in the 70s, 80s and be and, and, and further back than that, motor vehicles didn't have the capacity to drive that fast. A 120Y, you push that to 100, it's shaking. You know you used to get, you drive a Vauxhall, the Hunter Hillman and them kind of cars. I mean I ain't saying they can't drive fast. The roads, the, the place wasn't that developed. So the highway, I remember the highway was just like a main road, one lane up, one lane down. [01:06:33] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:06:34] Speaker B: Now you have three lanes. So you have a six lane highway, three up, three down, that kind of thing that was in existence back in the, in the 80s that came on. You see get a kind of two lane, three lane thing lower down to Port of Spain area coming down. But if you're going all your parima and them things pass pia call up in Trinity. He wasn't getting that those things came on board after and they heard the calls and they put it 100 because it was realistic. 100 is safe. You know, do feasibility studies showed while you could die at 100 km per hour depending you have a likelihood of living of surviving the accident the incident, if there's one, you know, that speed is relatively okay. [01:07:14] Speaker A: All right. [01:07:16] Speaker B: Now with the fire station I say that it's I with the fire stations and these so called sub station which I don't understand was a substation, the fire station. But they were placed in areas across Trinidad and Tobago that were villages and towns. Now the San Juan area Arima we see them as boroughs. [01:07:41] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:07:41] Speaker B: But they are city onto themselves. They are shopping zones there. So which means the commercial capacity has increased over the years. Plenty warehouses and things you get in El Secoro, which is house which is supported by the. The San Juan Fire fire substation. You have supermarkets, you have. And don't talk about residences, multiple residences. Just going down to the back of the agricultural lands down in the back of Savannah Road by where Savannah Villas are down in the back there. You drive down there. Years ago it was agricultural land area. Johnny King Right now it's apartment buildings, apartment complexes. So these are residents who can. Who would have an emergency. Late last. Early last year I was driving through and I saw a car was firebombed in a compound. So what is happening with these substations with this one fire tender or in some instances 2. [01:08:36] Speaker A: So again, the lack of investment in the fast service has not only been with funds, it has just been with the. Just looking at the overall development. Yes. Of the organization. Ensuring that we keep pace with the way in which the country has developed and ensuring that we along we support the infrastructure that goes along with persons investing in as you said, apartment buildings and warehouses and so on. Right. Unfortunately, we have not kept pace with that and it is become more and more evident. And again it ra its ugly head again on the back in December when the MP Julian and her family lost their lives. Right. Because the Arima fire station, which as I said before carries the strength of a substation. [01:09:16] Speaker B: It does. [01:09:17] Speaker A: They were already on another emergency which was a structural fire fire in forget the area at the moment. So I wouldn't check. But they were on a different call. So therefore, even though there was a station close by, that a station was not equipped to mount a secondary response. In that case, and fortunately for the people of Arima at Least they still have an appliance, they still have a station. But there are entire areas in Trinidad and Tobago that are fully developed and are developing. And there's been no discussion surrounding ensuring that the fire service expands to meet the needs. For instance, the government, more than two decades ago would have begun building those homes down in Cashew Gardens. Yes, and they continue to expand. The nearest fire station to Cashew Gardens is in Chaguana's headquarters. [01:10:07] Speaker B: Yeah, the drive today is about 15. [01:10:09] Speaker A: To 20 minutes on a good day. [01:10:12] Speaker B: And that's a great day. [01:10:14] Speaker A: And Cashew Gardens is one of the closer communities. Right. And you have all the communities in that area that. That what, eastern side of the highway? [01:10:22] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:10:23] Speaker A: Right. That lead on to Tabaquita and so on. The nearest fire station to Tabaquita is in Princestown that we know presently is closed as a result of the dilapidated state it was allowed to deteriorate in. [01:10:39] Speaker B: Princestown fire station closed. [01:10:41] Speaker A: Yeah, the Princeton fire station. We accompanied the officers with a walkout last. [01:10:45] Speaker B: So where is it? Where are they housed now? [01:10:47] Speaker A: They are responding from the Saparia fire station. [01:10:50] Speaker B: My goodness. So Princess Tongue area district is without. [01:10:53] Speaker A: A fire, is without a tender, without a station. So we are. We seem to be regressing when we're supposed to be expanding. We removed the fire station that was located at Lady Hills in San Fernando. Yes, it was about 13 years ago that fire station was removed. So San Fernando before had two fire stations to cover the city. [01:11:13] Speaker B: It's just the one by the roundabout. [01:11:14] Speaker A: It's just the one by the roundabout now, which has the responsibility of covering all the way up to Labry as well, with Princess Town. Labry, another area where we had a major incident where I think three families lost their homes, displacing almost 18 persons, fortunately didn't claim any lives. But because the nearest fire station is in print is either in point 14 or San Fernando, those families lost their homes. We've had incidents recently in the Presal area in Coover where families lost their homes as well. Multiple persons, I believe it was about 10 or 13 persons that were rendered homeless as a result of that incident. Because the nearest response came from all of the nearest station is the Kuva Sabaneta station. That station is still about 15 minutes away from them. Right, 15 minutes. Minutes sound like a lot to persons, the untrained mind. But for context, again, the international standard for response between incidents is generally five to seven minutes. So when you're saying your nearest station is 15 minutes, 20 minutes away, and if they are on Another emergency and the subsequent session has to respond which is the. Which happened in that day Vancouver Chaguanas. [01:12:29] Speaker B: Fire station which is almost half an hour 45 minutes. [01:12:33] Speaker A: Yeah. And that is what is occurring throughout the entire entirety of Trinidad where large entire communities are left unprotected. And the same obtained in Tobago as well. Almost an entire half of the island is without any fire protection whatsoever. [01:12:45] Speaker B: All you're listening. You all are listening to what this president is saying. I'll take a call here. Quick boy. Hello, Good morning. [01:12:55] Speaker G: Hi, Good morning, Davy. [01:12:58] Speaker B: Good morning, my dear. [01:12:59] Speaker G: I'm calling from the penal area. I want to know the fire. The guy there knows there is a fire station in Clark Road in Pinal that no movement taking place there. They don't have a fire truck or anything or sort like if a fire in the area you have to call separate or San Fernando and we have a building there well equipped with all those things of fire. Just a fire truck. We need you when you pass there is like a. A ghost. A ghost. We would like to know when they will be operating from here and have a truck there all the time. Thank you. [01:13:46] Speaker B: All right, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. Hello, Good morning. Call me back. Have so much WhatsApp here. You want to come back for an expert, Invite us. Yeah. Hello, Good morning. [01:13:58] Speaker F: Morning. [01:13:59] Speaker C: David, I just want to ask the President a couple of things here. The station you spoke about in Santa Cruz where you said has no firefighting capacity. I wanted to more or less explain that in total to me. Because if they are there and there's no fire fighting capacity, I wonder exactly what do they do there? Secondly, I want to ask you this question. What is the position of the association in relation to a spread of subunits in strategic areas so that there could be a quicker response in that you will have a fire station with six tenders inside of it when you could perhaps have just two there and you have the other four spreader strategically within the geographical space it's responsible for. [01:14:44] Speaker B: Eric, because. Yeah, go ahead, go ahead and finish. [01:14:47] Speaker C: Right, okay. So that the last thing I want to ask you this thing about the fire services being under resource has been prominent in the atmosphere for the past 24 months. I know the minister said that certain things are on order. Do you know what is on order and when they're going to arrive and all of that. Listen to your comments. [01:15:05] Speaker A: You have about three questions there. Before I answer, just let me just touch quickly on the previous caller who mentioned Penal Fire Station. The caller is correct. Penal Fire Station recently Built was opened approximately nine years ago. And since then they have struggled to have an appliance assigned there. The building was built without securing an appliance. So the BIM without protection for the Santa Cruz fire station, what I said is that it didn't have the firefighting capabilities because the appliance sign there is a hazardous materials vehicle that is being utilized by members of our search and rescue team. Those officers are not first responders, so to speak. They normally respond to incidents of, you know, collapsed structures and so on. They are highly trained, specialized skills, but they are not responsible for or they don't respond initially to house fires and other types of incidents that the average firefighter at a station would respond to. So that's why I said the Santa Cruz fire station is without a firefighting capable appliance or crew at this time. So effectively does not operate as a fire station, so to speak. And as it pertains to equipment that is underway, the chief officer recently reported that the breeding apparatus sets are on the way and they expected to arrive somewhere to the end of March or April. We wait to see if that materializes. But outside of that order, I understand that there's a decision was made to purchase some four appliances back in December of last year. Those appliances take approximately 18 months to arrive. So you could probably calculate from that period of time when we'll have some relief. And that's the reason we are calling for decisions to be made now. Because it takes such a long time in order for the fire service to actually receive the goods that they place on order. [01:16:45] Speaker B: So here my question for you, right? And all the questions I can't ask all. So we had to do a part three, I guess. Where did us get all them fire things on Independence Day to parade with if we shorten so much? [01:16:57] Speaker A: That is an excellent question. And if you would look back at previous years to what we present now, you would recognize that there's a shortage, there's less and less vehicles. But even on that day, some geographical areas are left unprotected. [01:17:10] Speaker B: And I was not going asking because I'm sure that the parade goes off. [01:17:13] Speaker A: It looks good, yeah, but we take appliances from Piaco, we take trucks from what this man say, they take vehicles from all over just to put on a show. So it has been about keeping up appearances. [01:17:27] Speaker B: Well, here's what all you had to. [01:17:28] Speaker A: Do as opposed to making any. [01:17:29] Speaker B: You all have to know, let. Let 2025 Independence Day be without the fire service. So they will have the police march, everybody march. And the fire Service personnel who off duty go march but no equipment out there because we have to make sure. Because pal, listen, you have, you have. [01:17:51] Speaker A: Me worried, you know, it ought to be all citizens. [01:17:53] Speaker B: You have me, you tell me how Tobago, half of Tobago is left without a fire service to protect the island, that part of the island, yes, Any emergency, they're coming from the next half. [01:18:07] Speaker A: Of the island, the next half of. [01:18:07] Speaker B: The island and then on top of that breeding apparatuses in those areas do well in Tobago do exist. [01:18:12] Speaker A: They don't have any water, they have none. [01:18:13] Speaker B: So they can't run in no building, not smoking and smeltering to rescue nobody. You're going dead. [01:18:17] Speaker A: Correct? Yeah, correct. [01:18:19] Speaker B: And if you see how Karen saying this thing. Yeah, and he's not. And what. I ain't sugarcoating it. That is the reality. You're going. [01:18:25] Speaker A: It's a reality and it's unfortunate but the reason we have to make it public because we need the citizens to understand that they are at risk so they can take, you know, the preventative measures necessary to protect themselves at home and they can call upon their government, the elected representatives, especially at a time right now where they are walking around and asking for votes, asking about the fire stations, asking about the fire officers. Ask them what is being done to ensure that they are protected and that our lives as citizens are protected as well. Those are the questions I would advise you to pose to all of those candidates when they walk around to greet you. [01:18:56] Speaker B: What is your plan? What is your plan? I live in. In Kumoto Manzanilla. What is your plan to us? To get a fire service, a station up here. And not just a station because you're building p. And you had no appliance. [01:19:05] Speaker A: Correct. [01:19:05] Speaker B: So you're building nice big stations. That penal junction there, that big station, beautiful station. That is a fire station. [01:19:12] Speaker A: Yeah, beautiful station. [01:19:13] Speaker B: And it empty. [01:19:14] Speaker A: Empty. [01:19:15] Speaker B: Only imagine that millions of dollars spent on this beautiful building and it's empty. [01:19:22] Speaker A: A number of officers are still without. [01:19:24] Speaker B: Yeah, she asked about the beer kids. [01:19:26] Speaker A: She asked about back pay for officers. Of course. [01:19:28] Speaker B: Well. Oh gosh. Tusca Gill. [01:19:30] Speaker A: Yes. A number of officers without. [01:19:32] Speaker B: Still only mdp. I'm getting his own. [01:19:34] Speaker A: Anyway, he don't like his mind to sleep out. [01:19:35] Speaker B: So most likely, yeah, he money can't sleep outside. Yeah, yeah, the prime minister money can't sleep out, but he always could sleep out. Folks, it has been a very animated and spirited conversation this morning. We want to thank the president of the fire service association, Kian guy for making his way down here and not just coming in at a time that I didn't think he was supposed to be, but he did. He stayed on with us. And I mean engage with you guys. And this is the segment to act. You can ask Jude Rogers that when we inside Safety Mondays, right? Safety Mondays is geared towards sharing information on safety and security for you and how you can protect yourself. Conversations with the president. He could answer them questions. So don't be vexed when Jude say well, you know, I will have to get back to you. Don't vex with a man. Literally, he's not in a position to always give you the type of response you are looking for because we are geared towards safety and fire prevention. Folks, there is an old saying that love at first sight is often cured by a second look. But once you fall in love with this gentleman here and the fire services, you will never have to look again. Let's hope that until the next one from the big show. He's on to the next one. Tusca Martinez and the Human impact. See you guys tomorrow morning. [01:20:46] Speaker A: The best insight, instant feedback, accountability the all new Talk Radio Freedom 106.5.