$107.6M Diamond Fire Station commissioned – to strengthen emergency response

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Saturday officially commissioned the long-awaited Diamond Fire Station, a state-of-the-art facility built at a cost of GY$107.6 million to improve emergency response, fire prevention, and public safety across the rapidly expanding East Bank Demerara corridor.
The commissioning ceremony was led by Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, M.P., and attended by Permanent Secretary Andre Ally, Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, Regional Police Commander for Region 4B Wayne DeHearte, Divisional Officer Hemchandra Persaud, and senior officials of the Guyana Fire Service. The event marked a major milestone in the Government’s commitment to strengthening emergency infrastructure and fostering safer communities nationwide.
The Diamond Fire Station has been outfitted with a comprehensive range of modern amenities designed to support operational efficiency, personnel readiness, and public service delivery.

At the centre of the facility is a fully equipped control room, which functions as the station’s nerve centre, allowing for real-time dispatching and monitoring of fire-related incidents. This feature is expected to significantly reduce response times and improve coordination during emergencies.
A spacious conference room has also been included in the layout to facilitate strategic planning sessions, team briefings, interagency coordination meetings, and training workshops. These spaces will enable the station to operate not only as a response centre but also as a planning and capacity-building hub.
To support proactive fire safety efforts, the station includes a dedicated Fire Prevention Officer’s Office. This area will be used to develop and manage community outreach programmes, conduct inspections, and promote fire prevention awareness across Diamond and surrounding communities.
Further enhancing its emergency response capabilities, the station features a specialised Emergency Medical Services (EMS) office and storage area. This space is designed to allow for the efficient management of medical supplies, emergency kits, and the coordination of life-saving assistance during fire and rescue operations.
The station also includes a dedicated IT room to support its digital and communications operations, along with finance and administrative offices for efficient record-keeping, personnel management, and logistical planning.
With staff welfare being a top priority, the facility is also equipped with several amenities aimed at supporting firefighters’ health, hygiene, and living conditions. A fully functional gym has been installed to encourage physical readiness among officers. A training room is available to support ongoing capacity development, while a laundry area ensures proper hygiene and maintenance of uniforms.
A comfortable waiting area has been provided for members of the public seeking fire service support or visiting the station. In addition, the facility includes well-appointed senior and junior living quarters, providing round-the-clock accommodation for on-duty officers. These living quarters are intended to ensure continuous preparedness and rapid mobilisation at any hour, day, or night.
The commissioning of the Diamond Fire Station represents more than just a physical infrastructure upgrade. It reflects a broader vision of responsive, community-orientated public safety, where critical services are placed closer to residents. As additional fire stations are slated for commissioning across the country, the Government is working steadily toward building a robust regional safety network, one that ensures every Guyanese citizen has timely and reliable access to essential emergency and rescue services.
Just a few weeks ago, the newly reconstructed Leonora Fire Station was commissioned at a cost of $159 million, serving as a critical emergency response hub for areas from Parika to Vreed-en-Hoop, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Designed to modern standards, the facility includes dedicated offices for key command staff, a control and IT room for real-time response, a training room, a gym, a kitchen, and barracks for both male and female staff, along with senior officers’ living quarters. An EMS office is also part of the setup to ensure integrated medical emergency response.
The Ministry also noted that a new fire station is under construction in Parika, and the Wales Fire Station will soon be commissioned, further strengthening emergency services in the region.