The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) celebrated the graduation of Batch #1 of 2024 earlier today (August 23, 2024), marking a significant milestone as the largest and most diverse class in the service’s history. The ceremony showcased the graduates’ impressive skills through coordinated silent foot drills and adeptly performed fire drills.
For the second consecutive year, a female recruit topped the course. Recruit Firewoman Tiffany Caesar was named Best Overall Student, highlighting the increasing role of women in the fire service. This year’s class also boasted the largest-ever number of female graduates.
During his featured address, Minister Benn highlighted the government’s commitment to modernizing the GFS, including investments in new fire stations, state-of-the-art equipment, and enhanced training programmes.
Minister Benn also stressed the importance of fire safety awareness and prevention, particularly in light of changing household compositions and the country’s industrial growth. He highlighted the need for
specialized firefighting capabilities to address new challenges, especially with the upcoming petrochemical complex in Wales.
“We have already built the building for the fire service at Wales in preparation for the advent of the petrochemical complex there,”
Minister Benn stated. “The Guyana
Fire Service must have the knowledge and awareness to fight those types of high-temperature, high-explosive fires.”
Addressing the new firefighters, the Minister said, “We want them to have courage. We want them to not think of the fire service job as work but as a place which is designed for training and self-development, going up the ladder of personal progressive development and personal improvement.”
Chief Fire Officer Mr. Gregory Wickham, during his brief remarks, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the training programme. “Our training goes beyond just firefighting techniques. We focus on developing well-rounded first responders who can handle a variety of emergency situations with professionalism and expertise,” he stated.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world,” Mr. Wickham further encouraged the recruits to embody this principle, ensuring their communities can trust in the readiness and capability of their firefighters.
Several outstanding recruits were recognized for their exceptional performance during the graduation ceremony. Ms. Tiffany Caesar distinguished herself by earning both the Overall Best Student and Best Theory awards, showcasing her comprehensive understanding of firefighting principles. Mr. Kamadiel Gill was acknowledged as the runner-up best student, demonstrating a high level of overall competence. Ms. Britney Phillips received the Most Improved Student award, highlighting her significant progress throughout the training. Mr. Thakur Ramroop excelled in drill exercises, earning the Best Drill Student honor, while Mr. Jeremy Khan’s physical prowess was recognized with the Best Physical Firefighter award.
These accolades underscore the diverse talents and dedication within this graduating class of the Guyana Fire Service.
The ceremony also included addresses from key figures in the GFS, including Mr. Compton Sparman, Chairman of the Recruitment and Training Board, Divisional Officer Administration (ag) Mr. Clive McDonald, and Training Officer – Station Officer (ag) Mr. Delbert Pitt, and was also attended by Commander of Regional Division #3 Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Mahendra Siwnarine.
The graduation ceremony marks an important step forward for the GFS as it continues to grow and adapt to meet the needs of a rapidly developing nation.