Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Tuesday stated that the new Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Headquarters at Homestretch Avenue is about 60 per cent completed.
Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, Mae Toussaint Jr Thomas along with other officials during a site visit in March
On the sidelines of an event, he told media operatives that the contractor is on schedule to complete the massive project, valued at $614 million.
“It’s probably 60 per cent in terms of building. There’s still some more building, finishing and internal work to be done. But they’re on schedule. I visited the site on at least three occasions. I am satisfied with the progress and quality of work so far,” the Minister shared.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn
The new facility is constructed on approximately 3.5 acres of land between the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and D’Urban Park. A portion of the land at the immediate east of D’Urban Park has been earmarked for the construction of a sports facility.
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.
A contract of $614 million was signed with Mohammed’s Enterprise for the construction of the new headquarters last November after an allocation was made in the 2021 budget. The expected time of completion was set as 14 months from the commencement date, February 2022.
Since the Administration took office in August 2020, significant strides have been made to boost the firefighting capability countrywide. This has seen a number of fire stations being rehabilitated, including the Eccles Fire Station, which was commissioned recently. Works on the station began in June 2021, at a cost of $37.8 million and will accommodate two fire tenders and one EMS ambulance.
Additionally, works to construct the new Fire Station at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, commenced in February. The new facility which cost over $76 million will accommodate two fire tenders and one EMS ambulance. It will also house a control room, office space for senior officers and administrative staff, a gym and a conference room.
It will be equipped in accordance with the standards and recommended practices contained in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 14 for aerodromes and the ICAO Doc 9137 Airport Service Manual, to provide rescue and firefighting services at the airport.
Meanwhile, the Minister also informed that work is progressing for the new Brickdam Police Station, which was completely ravaged by fire.
“At the moment, the Ministry with the help of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission is drilling in the compound to understand the subsurface profile for the foundation work and the total design of the building.”
On October 2, 2021, a fire flattened the wooden complex which used to be the Brickdam Police Station. The fire, which started in the second storey in the administrative building, had destroyed some 80 per cent of the Police station.
In Budget 2022, an allocation of $405 million was set aside for a new Brickdam Police Station. It had been announced that the Home Affairs Ministry would be consulting to determine the structural make-up of the building.
Chase Green, a man who was arrested for robbery under arms, was identified as the person responsible for setting fire to the Brickdam Police Station. Police Headquarters had said that Green confessed to starting the fire. Green reportedly confessed that he took a piece of sponge and wrapped it on a piece of wire which he lit and pushed through a ventilation hole in the cell over to a part that had some documents.
