Fire station proposed for South Trelawny
KINGSTON, Jamaica: The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development will be undertaking the construction of a fire station in South Trelawny.
Portfolio Minister, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, in making the announcement last month in Trelawny, said that lands have been located for the facility which will serve communities like Ulster Spring, Albert Town, Stettin, Warsop, Troy and Wait-A-Bit.
“We know that this part of Trelawny is challenging and in 2016, we indicated our intention to build new fire stations in certain sections of the country. The Jamaica Fire Brigade, on a visit with the Member of Parliament for the area (South Trelawny) has identified a location to build a fire station,” he explained.
“The Ministry will be soliciting the support of the municipal corporation to assist in the technical aspect…working closely with the Jamaica Fire Brigade.”
The Minister disclosed that the process to realize the new fire station will begin during the 2020/2021 fiscal year.
The parish of Trelawny is now served by one fire station sited in Falmouth located in the northern section of the parish. During fire calls from the hilly territory of South Trelawny, fire units travel from Falmouth or Christiana, Manchester to put extinguish blazes.
Minister McKenzie also committed to constructing a drop-in centre to serve homeless and mentally ill persons in South Trelawny.
“I am going to ask the Secretary of the Board of Supervision to get the poor relief officer to do an assessment of what the needs are in terms of the street people, and I will give a commitment to you that in the next financial year, we will put one (drop-in centre) in this part of Trelawny,” he said.
He stated that a drop-in centre that is being built in Falmouth is almost complete, and will be officially opened in short order.