Parika gets new fire station to enhance emergency response

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Parika gets new fire station to enhance emergency response

A new fire station was commissioned in Parika, Region Three, on Friday, marking a major step forward in strengthening emergency response and improving community safety.

Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, who led the ceremony alongside Permanent Secretary Andre Ally and Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, said the $97.8 million facility represents “a promise delivered” and a tangible symbol of the administration’s commitment to citizens’ safety.

“This is more than just a building. It is a promise delivered, a promise to strengthen the capacity of the Guyana Fire Service and ensure that communities across our country are better protected from the threat of fires and other emergencies,” Walrond said.

The project followed a February 2023 fire at the Parika Market, which exposed the need for faster emergency response in the area. Walrond said the new facility demonstrates responsive governance in action.

“We listened, we understood the need, and today, we are here to deliver on that commitment, to ensure that such challenges are never repeated,” she added.

The fire station, strategically located to reduce response times and improve coordination, forms part of a national drive to modernise the Guyana Fire Service and strengthen preparedness across the country.

Walrond linked the commissioning to Region Three’s broader transformation, citing ongoing investments such as the Bharrat Jagdeo River Bridge, the Parika Port Development, and housing and infrastructure expansion.

“To support this growing hub of commerce and travel, essential services, customs, immigration, the Coast Guard, the police, and of course, a modern Fire Service, must all be in place. And that is precisely what we are building here today,” she said.

Permanent Secretary Ally praised the collaborative efforts behind the project, saying the facility reflects the administration’s strategic vision for a modern and responsive emergency system.

“This investment represents our collective commitment to strengthening national safety infrastructure. By equipping our firefighters with the resources and environment they need, we are not only protecting lives and property but also building public confidence in the essential services of our nation,” Ally said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said new fire stations are being established in key areas nationwide to ensure faster and more efficient responses to emergencies.