The Annotto Bay hearth station in St. Mary has reopened following a $108-million rehabilitation, which positions the power as a contemporary, purpose-built emergency response unit.
The renovation was accomplished in three phases, leading to a number of new facilities, together with ample dormitory house, a convention room, a mini gymnasium, eating room, industrial washer and a standby generator for continuity of operation within the occasion of energy outages.
Addressing the reopening ceremony on June 10, Minister of Native Authorities and Neighborhood Growth, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, expressed confidence that the brand new facility will end in improved service for the 11 communities that rely on the station.
He underscored that the rehabilitation train, “[gives] the women and men who’re going to occupy this constructing a spot that they will relaxation comfortably, loosen up and carry out the duty at hand in retaining their parish secure”.
“It’s a multifaceted station, which is constructed to facilitate male and females,” the Minister added.
Moreover, Mr. McKenzie lauded the truth that “important funding” has been made within the nation’s firefighting capabilities by the Authorities, with 5 brand-new stations constructed within the final seven years.
First in-built 1948, the Annotto Bay hearth station had fallen right into a state of disrepair and was earmarked for rehabilitation below the Jamaica Fireplace Brigade (JFB) Infrastructural Growth Programme.
In the meantime, Appearing Commissioner of the JFB, Kevin Haughton, mentioned rehabilitation of the hearth station “underscores the continuing dedication to infrastructural improvement throughout the Jamaica Fireplace Brigade and can, little question, serve to spice up the morale of the women and men that function from this station”.
He added that the slate of facilities and options of the unit “augurs properly for bettering service supply and the security of the residents of Annotto Bay and different communities which might be served by this station”.
For his half, Mayor of Port Maria, Councillor Fitzroy Wilson, described the reopening of the hearth station as “well timed”, given the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season on June 1.
“We rely closely on the hearth service. With this residence that’s right here, they (the firefighters) will have the ability to ship even better-quality service,” the Mayor mentioned.
