To date, millions of dollars have been spent on various types of equipment for Anguilla under the UK Government Programme for the island. This was disclosed to The Anguillian newspaper by Mr. Darren Forbes-Batey , Head of the Programme in the Governor’s Office.
He was at the time at the new Fire Hall at the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport where he accompanied the Deputy Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley, who handed over a quantity of equipment to Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Shondell Hodge, on Tuesday, November 27. Mr. Forbes-Batey told The Anguillian that the presentation by the Deputy Governor was only part of a larger supply of equipment for other Government of Anguilla Ministries and Departments.
He estimated that, overall, the cost of the equipment brought into Anguilla, under the structure of the Department of Disaster Management, was about 600,000 pounds plus the two brand new fire trucks – costing some 2.1 million pounds – which would be shipped to Anguilla shortly. One was purchased in Austria and the other in the United States. In order to further develop and complete the twinned Fire Hall and Air Traffic Control Tower was another estimated 1.9 million pounds. The total cost of this equipment for Anguilla amounts to just under five million pounds – quite a chunk of the 60 million pounds of the UK Government’s grant to the island.
During the brief handover ceremony at the Fire Hall, Mr. Hodge, the Chief Fire Officer, expressed gratitude to the UK Government and the Governor’s Office for the equipment. “I can honestly say we are in a far better position than we have ever been because of this equipment upgrade,” he stated. “We pledge to take care of this equipment to the best of our ability. On display we have portable pumps, shovels, sledge hammers, weeding apparatuses, a tent, rope, chain saws, flood pumps, life vests, helmets, lighting towers and several other pieces of equipment.”
Deputy Governor Bradley commented: “First of all, I want to thank Shondell and his team for their hard efforts over the last couple of months. I know that it has been very difficult for the Fire and Rescue Services since Hurricane Irma. I just want to thank you all for your hard work and dedication.”
He continued: “This is the first of many resources that the Governor’s Office intends to put into the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service. The British Government takes its commitment to the people of Anguilla very seriously, and we hope that this goes a long way in making us feel safe and secure as far as emergencies are concerned. There are some fire trucks on the way. I think we are all excited about those and you are going to be moving into a new building pretty soon – and we hoping, that with those added resources and responsibilities, you will step up to the challenge. We have no doubt that this will happen. To whom much is given, much is expected.
“We hope that you will make good use of these resources and also that, for the next ASSI (Air Safety Support International) review, you will pass that assessment with flying colours. All of us were happy to see the private jets at the airport over the Thanksgiving period. In order for us to maintain that rating we have to meet certain specifications and this goes a long way in doing that. Not only is it important for security but for our economic development, and our tourism, and to show that we can take aircraft of a certain size – and we have the capacity to handle any kind of emergency.
“Again, I just want to congratulate you for your hard work and efforts, and we look forward to our continuing partnership with the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service. We know that you have a dedicated and talented crew, and that we can expect great things from the Fire and Rescue Service over the next few years.”
