10 new fire stations, 40 NDCs to receive firefighting jeeps – Home Affairs Minister

Plans to construct 10 new fire stations across the country and to allocate firefighting pick-up vehicles to 40 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) were among the major highlights as the Home Affairs Ministry’s 2026 budget estimates came under scrutiny in the Committee of Supply on Friday.
Minister Oneidge Walrond on Friday outlined what she described as a significant expansion of the Guyana Fire Service’s infrastructure and operational reach while responding to questions from opposition Members of Parliament during the consideration of the estimates.

Apart from infrastructure, Walrond confirmed that 40 NDCs will be equipped with pick-up vehicles to enhance their capacity to respond quickly to fires, particularly in rural and semi-urban communities where response time has often been a challenge. She explained that the vehicles are intended to strengthen first-response capability at the community level, ensuring that action can be taken in the early stages of a fire before major fire tenders arrive.
The Minister told the House that the investment is part of what she described as an unprecedented level of capital works within the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), involving new stations, rehabilitation of existing facilities, fleet expansion, and fire hydrant installations as central components of the 2026 programme.
Construction of new fire stations is slated for Wisroc, Soesdyke, Parika, Onverwagt, West Ruimveldt, Tarlogy, Rosignol Village, Number 38 Village, Canje, the Marine Fire Station in Georgetown and the Timehri Fire Station. In addition, works are ongoing or planned for completion and rehabilitation at Diamond, Lethem, Mabaruma, Madia, Linden, and New Amsterdam, among others.
A sum of $250 million has been allocated for the purchase and nationwide installation of fire hydrants, which the Minister said will be distributed across all regions to improve fire suppression capability and hydrant coverage.

Upgrade of Police living quarters
On the policing side, allocations were also made for the upgrade of Police living quarters across the country, with priority rehabilitation projects underway in several regions, including Regions One, Four, and Six. At the Charity Police Station, $15.6 million has been budgeted for the construction of fencing and related infrastructure works.
The Minister also addressed staffing and training under the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Under the training allocation, several specialised courses are to be funded, including Senior and Junior Investigation courses, cybercrime training, crime scene investigation, and regional security system training for sergeants overseas.
In relation to forensic capacity, Walrond informed the House that 15 persons are to be trained in forensic disciplines, while additional specialists at the Guyana Forensic Laboratory are also undergoing training to strengthen investigative capacity.
Road safety featured prominently during the debate, with the Minister outlining a series of measures aimed at reducing fatalities and traffic violations. These include training traffic officers in enhanced enforcement techniques, expanding the use of CCTV cameras under the Safe City and Safe Country programme, increasing the issuance and enforcement of e-tickets, and introducing governors on heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks.
Walrond told the Assembly that nearly 35,000 speeding tickets and other traffic violation notices have already been issued, with enforcement expected to intensify in 2026. She also indicated that efforts are underway to regularise vehicle tint standards, noting that excessively dark tint has hindered detection through surveillance systems and cameras.
The measures come against the backdrop of continued concern over road fatalities. According to Police data, 137 road deaths were recorded in 2025, compared with 132 in 2024 and 175 in 2023. Authorities have consistently cited speeding and reckless driving among the leading causes of fatal accidents.
The Home Affairs Ministry oversees operations of several agencies, including the GPF, Guyana Prison Service, GFS, General Register Office, and Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit.