Fire trucks in rural Jamaica under scrutiny

Jamaica's Minister of Local Government and Community Development has requested a review of emergency service vehicles in rural areas.

Desmond McKenzie says he has given instructions to look into the suitability of vehicles in mountainous terrain.

The Chairman of the Board of the Jamaica Fire Service has been asked to conduct an evaluation of trucks in service, and for the process to include the rural heads “as they are out there and they know exactly what is happening on the ground.”

McKenzie made the announcement after a tour of local government facilities in Portland.

“One of the complaints that I’ve gotten since I’ve been here from the National Solid Waste Management Authority, and from the fire department, is that because of the mountainous terrain of Portland collecting garbage and putting out fires in many areas pose a severe challenge.

"So, we have to, in a parish like Portland, look at the kind of units that will be sent to the parish,” he said.

The new financial year may mean new trucks could be purchased that could cope better in the parish, McKenzie said, pledging his full support to the Portland Municipal Corporation in developing the parish.