PORT MARIA, ST MARY — Head of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) St Mary Division Anthony Hinds has applauded Sandals Resorts International for its donation of two buses which will be retrofitted as emergency response vehicles.

The buses, which cost $16 million, will be based in St Mary and St Ann, and Hinds told guests at the handing over ceremony at the Port Maria Fire Station last Friday that they will enhance the emergency response capabilities of the fire brigade in the two parishes.

He described the donation as timely, and pointed out that the fire brigade rolled out an emergency medical service several years ago.

According to Hinds, St Mary is ready to ramp up its emergency medical response.

“We have the space for the training now; the emergency medical service is waiting to fully activate the team. This is a step forward and [we’re] looking forward to the retrofitted bus and seeing it deployed in St Mary [so] that we can activate our emergency response,” Hinds said.

He noted that with the new emergency vehicles firefighters will be able to respond to motor vehicle crashes with the medical unit.

Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie also welcomed the donation of the vehicles. He underscored that they will help to preserve lives and improve the capacity of the JFB to respond to emergencies.

“When there is a motor vehicle accident it is not the police that you call; it is the first responder, which is the Jamaica Fire Brigade, and the work of this organisation has increased over the years. The presentation of these two units signifies the importance of their role,” said McKenzie as he applauded Sandals Resorts for its work in supporting communities, individuals, and organisations.

In handing over the units Jeremy Jones, regional managing director for Jamaica at Sandals Resorts International, said the entity was responding to a need.

“We heard the need to have buses in this location converted to ambulances. It is being done in an effort to save lives. There is no point in time when the fire brigade’s alarm is rung that firefighters do not respond to be the first responders, facing emergencies and disasters without knowing what is out there. When you put your life on the line every time you jump into that fire truck or ambulance, it is a call of duty that many of us will not be able to answer,” said Jones.

For his part, mayor of Port Maria Fitzroy Wilson lauded the St Mary Fire Brigade for its work and declared it “the best in Jamaica”.

“The people of St Mary will feel much safer,” said Wilson as he praised the fire department for its tireless efforts.

“I can tell you that we felt the presence of the JFB during and after Hurricane Melissa as they were at every meeting at our nerve centre — and I mean a senior superintendent was present,” Wilson added, as he commended the men and women of the St Mary Division of the JFB for their strong support during and after the Category 5 storm which hit Jamaica in October 2025.

In a moment of prayer during the donation of two buses which will be retrofitted as emergency response vehicles were Jeremy Jones, regional managing director, Jamaica for Sandals Resorts International; Stewart Beckford, commissioner of Jamaica Fire Brigade; mayor of Port Maria, Fitzroy Wilson; Desmond McKenzie, minister of local government and community development; and Robert Montague, Member of Parliament for St Mary, Western. (Photo: Ingrid Henry)