Sandals Gifts Two Buses to Jamaica Fire Brigade for Ambulance Retrofit

MORANT BAY, March 16 (JIS): The Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) has received a boost to its operational reach after Sandals Resorts International presented two Foton buses, with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development helping to coordinate the gift.

Officials marked the transfer at a ceremony held at the Port Maria Fire Station in St. Mary on March 13. The vehicles are set to be converted into ambulances, adding capacity to the island's emergency medical response network.

The move fits within wider work to improve Jamaica's emergency services and public safety across the country.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, said JFB personnel now routinely answer calls involving road crashes and medical crises, showing that the brigade's mandate stretches well past fire suppression alone.

"The presentation of these two units… [underscores] the importance of their role," he stated.

Mr. McKenzie pointed to traffic collisions as a persistent problem, with St. Mary and St. Ann among the parishes recording some of the highest figures nationally.

"If you look at the numbers of road accidents across the country, the parishes of St Mary and St Ann feature significantly. This [donation of buses] is putting the Brigade in a position where it will be able to significantly cover this section of the island by providing the kind of medical service that is required," the Minister added.

He also praised the Sandals Group for its steady backing of national programmes.

"When you speak of commitment to country and love for country, Sandals is a prime example of what Jamaica is all about. Jamaica will see the benefit of these new vehicles that you are donating to help to preserve life, to improve the capacity of the Jamaica Fire Brigade to respond to the daily challenges," he added.

Managing Director of Sandals Resorts in Jamaica, Jeremy Jones, said the contribution shows how private firms can meet corporate social responsibility goals while backing national development.

"People will rely a lot on what is expected of Government and what is expected of municipal authorities, but where the private sector is able to collaborate with the public sector and provide an avenue and an opportunity to fill a gap… that is why we're here," he said.

Mr. Jones argued that, "for small island developing states… it's very important for the private sector to play an integral role in supporting important public initiatives".

He added that the donation by Sandals Resorts was made primarily "in an effort to help save lives".

State Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Delroy Williams, stressed how central the JFB is to Jamaica's disaster management planning.

"The Jamaica Fire Brigade is critical in our management of and preparation for disasters. So, the resource capability… resource buildup of the Fire Brigade is important," he said.

Mr. Williams said building up the brigade's assets improves its capacity to prevent, reduce, react to, plan for, and bounce back from disasters.

"So, we see the donation of these two buses as critical to the Jamaica Fire Brigade and its resource buildup and building its capability," he added.