807 grass fires, 510 building fires for 2023 – Benn tells National Assembly

There were a total of 807 grass or rubbish fires and 510 building fires in 2023 that required the response of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn told the parliamentary Committee of Supply on Tuesday.

He provided the statistics while defending the request for $24 million in supplementary funding for fuel and lubricants for the GFS.

Benn said an increase in fires, particularly with the ensuing El Nino conditions, and a high number of ambulance calls necessitated additional fuels.

The GPF responded to 6, 140 ambulance calls up to the time of this reporting for 2023.

“There have been a number of malicious setting of fires… the Fire Service also has the ambulance service attached to it.

“We had increased calls and several fake calls… the sum is just $24 million,” Benn explained when questioned by Opposition Parliamentarian Geeta Chandon-Edmond.

Commenting on the new assets procured, the Minister said it included two excavators, a new firefighting unit at the airport, a ladder to use in rescue operations along with other smaller vehicles.

In the 2023 budget, the GFS received $545 million to advance works on critical facilities. Another $489 million was received for the procurement of several other pieces of equipment for firefighting, including water bowsers and tenders and installation of a further 148 fire hydrants .

A further $20 million catered for the training of fire officers.