Working to make Vision 2030 a living reality

THE EXISTENCE and role of the Jamaica Fire Brigade is widely acknowledged in Jamaica. It is well known that being a firefighter is an inherently challenging and dangerous job that requires a special level of training, as well as personal commitment. However, arguably the greatest challenge to the firefighter, and to the Jamaica Fire Brigade as a whole, is the attitude of many of our people to their own safety through effective fire-prevention practices.

Despite the agency’s relentless and continuing efforts at public education through the Fire and Life Safety Awareness Programme, which has been part of its public outreach since 1995, too many people still somehow see their personal safety as someone else’s responsibility – in this case the Jamaica Fire Brigade. It is one of the reasons why the theme for this year’s observance of Fire and Life Safety Week – ‘Mek Wi Fix It – Community First!’ – is so important. The underlying message of this theme is the vital importance of personal responsibility to individual and community safety. This is also critical to community preservation and community development, for which I am also responsible.

I remain very concerned about the circumstances in which fires occur, many of which were ultimately caused by bad personal decisions. The period between January and September this year reflects an unprecedented number of house fires, at 915. We have never, in fact, breached 900 in this respect. The signs were apparent, however, as there were 877 house fires in 2018, 865 in 2017, 805 in 2016, and 829 in 2015.

Despite this unwelcome pattern, I urge the leadership and members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade to remain optimistic as you work to create a culture shift in our people. I am well aware of your work in our schools, as you reach out to our juvenile population at the primary and secondary levels. Rest assured that your hard work, especially among these young people, will yield abundant fruit.

The truth is that the educational drive for fire safety will really show the desired result over the next decade, as the young people targeted now mature into adulthood, continue to improve through education, and progress to play their part in the development

of Jamaica, as we work to make Vision 2030 a living reality. It is with this target in mind that I especially encourage you to intensify your efforts at reaching into the minds of our citizens, and laud and salute you as you embark on the 24th observance of Fire and Life Safety Awareness Week.

DESMOND MCKENZIE Minister of Local Government and Community Development