ST MARY, Jamaica — The capacity of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) to carry out its duties has been strengthened through the donation of two Foton buses from Sandals Resorts International, facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

The buses were officially handed over during a ceremony at the Port Maria Fire Station in St Mary on March 13 and will be retrofitted into ambulances to strengthen the country’s emergency medical response capacity.

The donation forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Jamaica’s emergency response capabilities and enhance public safety nationwide.

Portfolio Minister Desmond McKenzie noted that the men and women of the JFB serve as first responders in accidents and medical emergencies, underscoring that the organisation’s role has expanded beyond firefighting.

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

McKenzie highlighted that road accidents remain a major concern, particularly in parishes such as St Mary and St Ann.

“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.

Meanwhile, McKenzie commended the Sandals Group for its continued support of national initiatives.

“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, stated that the donation reflects the private sector’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its vital role in supporting 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.

Jones maintained 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”.

Meanwhile, State Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Delroy Williams, underscored the critical role of the JFB within Jamaica’s disaster management framework.

“The Jamaica Fire Brigade is critical in our management of and preparation for disasters. So, the resource capability… resource build-up of the fire brigade is important,” he said.

Williams noted that strengthening the JFB’s resources enhances its ability to prevent, mitigate, respond to, prepare for, and recover from disasters.

“So, we see the donation of these two buses as critical to the Jamaica Fire Brigade and its resource build-up and building its capability,” he added.

— JIS