GFS officials better equipped in data collection following BoS training

Key personnel across all Guyana Fire Service (GFS) stations are now better equipped to improve that organization’s data collection, analysis and management following a training exercise conducted by technical personnel from the Bureau of Statistics.

A total of 58 firefighters and subordinate officers from the 22 Fire Stations of the GFS have been trained, in two batches over two weeks, at the GFS Headquarters in Georgetown in areas that covered: the importance of statistics for decision-making; the importance of good stewardship of data; introduction to data collection and management; data analysis; and improving workflows and reporting outcomes.
This exercise has been in keeping with the Bureau’s commitment to strengthen its relationships with agencies across the national statistical system in order to maximize the benefits of data and statistics, and ensure a coordinated approach to data collection.
Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, in remarks at the closing of the training exercise, impressed upon those gathered the importance of the GFS having accurate, relevant, and reliable statistics, which would have implications nationally and even beyond.
He highlighted that those persons trained are now equipped with the requisite knowledge to represent their respective fire stations on the statistical front, which would thereby improve the reporting of statistics. In this vein, he urged the participants to practise what they learnt during their statistical training, and expressed gratitude to the Bureau for facilitating the capacity-building exercise.
The GFS Divisional Officer – Administration with responsibility for training, Haimchandra Persaud, also stressed the importance of the capacity building exercise, since statistics play an important role in budgeting, forecasting for procurement, as well as examining trends.
He also said that training would enable a synchronized approach to data collection and analysis across the GFS fire stations countrywide.
And in commenting on the training exercise, Chief Statistician Errol La Cruez said the Bureau is pleased to collaborate with its sister agencies across the national statistical system to unleash the power of data and statistics in guiding better planning and decision-making.
“Firefighters are vital to keeping our communities safe, and good data and statistics are critical tools supporting that effort. Through this engagement with the Guyana Fire Service, we are working to build appropriate capacity in the production and use of data and statistics that will facilitate better monitoring and evaluation, and enhanced effectiveness in the overall operations of this very important arm of our disciplined services,” he has said.