Final touches being done on new GFS Headquarters before mid-June commissioning

The new state-of-the-art $614.5 million Guyana Fire Service Headquarters at Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, is expected to be officially commissioned in June but not before the final touches are added.

This was revealed by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn during a telephone interview with this publication on Sunday. The Minister stated that the building has to be fully furnished, and equipped with video surveillance and internet connectivity.
During the COPSQUAD2000 graduation ceremony earlier this month, Benn shared that they were initially hoping to have the facility opened this month.
“We were hoping to be able to open it by the end of this month, but I think it might run over to mid-June. There are some issues we have to finalise with respect to the construction and the occupancy. We are working at it,” the Minister stated.
The Minister also previously revealed that before the Administration takes over the building from the contractor, it will be examined for defects.
He made it clear that the authorities first need to identify any faults in the building during the defects liability period. In the event that any defect is identified, the contractor will have to resolve the issue and after this process is completed, the completion certificate will be signed and the final payment will be made.
In November 2021, a $614 million contract was awarded to Mohammed’s Enterprise for the construction of the new headquarters, after an allocation was made in the 2021 budget and was slated for completion in December 2022.
The relocation of the headquarters from the congested Stabroek Market Square will improve the operations of the Fire Service.

Upon completion, the modern facility will be able to accommodate eight fire tenders and six Emergency Medical Service (EMS) ambulances. It will come equipped with male and female barracks, a kitchen, a laundry area, officers’ living quarters, a gym, a day room, offices, and Emergency Medical Technician rooms. Furthermore, the building is designed to house and function with 70-plus ranks.
The new facility is being constructed on approximately 3.5 acres of land between the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the D’Urban Park Stadium. This is significantly larger than the cramped Stabroek layout, which poses difficulties for tenders to navigate during peak hours, as both human and vehicle traffic is hiked, thus affecting response time.
While the contract sum is $614 million, the new Headquarters for the Guyana Fire Service is expected to cost some $648 million upon full completion.