Firefighters must become first responders in all emergencies, says PM Phillips

Modern firefighting is expected to serve as the first responders to a wide range of emergencies, from traffic accidents and floods to wildfires and hazardous material incidents.

This was the charge given by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, speaking at the Guyana Fire Service Officers’ Conference 2026 at the Guyana Police Force Annex, Eve Leary.
“We are no longer living in an era where we can afford to look at a fire on a house and ignore the car crash down the street,” he said.
Phillips also noted that the fire service must become decentralised, observing that “the era of the centralised fire service is coming to an end.” The government is moving toward a hybrid model, combining a trained fire service with community-based units to serve both coastal and hinterland regions more effectively.
Each Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is expected to have its own fire tender to ensure faster emergency response.
With more than $3.5 billion invested in the fire service over the past five years, Phillips said the government is not only acquiring vehicles but also enhancing capacity and building a modern structure to advance firefighting. He added that the investment reflects the government’s commitment to firefighters, telling the conference that “The era of scarcity is over and the era of strategic investment has begun.”

The Prime Minister said these efforts are part of a broader push to modernise the fire service in line with Guyana’s growing economy. The Officers’ Conference provides a space for reflection and planning as the government implements systems to meet the demands of a developing nation.