Ms Carronelle Gumbs-Romney
The recent completion of a Bachelor’s degree by a female employee at the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service has brought much professional accomplishment and satisfaction to her and her department.
The proud person is Fire Officer, Ms. Carronelle Gumbs-Romney of Blowing Point. She studied at the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom from 2016 and graduated in July 2019 with a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours. She has now returned to the Fire and Rescue Department more than well-equipped for her job which can also include specialist work with the Royal Anguilla Police Force. Her studies were financed by the Government of Anguilla.
Asked why she pursued such training as a Fire Officer, Ms. Gumbs-Romney replied: “It was more of an investigative course. The degree gives me the option to investigate fires, but it is mainly about major crimes. I can investigate fires and in the Police Force I can also be a crime scene investigator.”
She has been in the Fire and Rescue Service for thirteen years.
Meanwhile, Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Shondell Hodge, sees Ms. Gumbs-Romney’s training as a major contribution to his department. “With her qualifications it brings another element to the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service. It is an element that the department can greatly utilise moving forward. Her skills are going to be utilised in the areas of fire prevention and investigation. With her expertise we will be in a better position to provide accurate information to various insurance companies and other agencies about scenes of fire.
Known for his commitment to professional service and the continuing upgrading of his already high-profile department, the Chief Fire Officer continued: “I have been considering something I really need to discuss with the Ministry about us having a dog for sniffing. There are also a lot of specialist pieces of equipment associated with conducting investigations and we are now in the process of securing some of that technical equipment to make Ms. Gumbs-Romney’s work easier.”
Mr. Hodge concluded: “My vision really and truly is for the Fire and Rescue Department to be one of the most resourceful organisations in the Caribbean. So if Barbados needs a certain area of expertise, we have it; If Antigua or St. Maarten needs it, little Anguilla has it. We have done well and have everything: brand new bumper suits; brand new helmets, brand new fire appliances, state-of-the-art ‘Jaws of Life’ and other modern equipment as well as a brand new building.”
In addition, the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service now has responsibility for search and rescue at sea and will soon have its own customs-built boat.
It is understood that Executive Council has recently approved a scholarship for an Anguillian student to study for a BSc degree in Domestic Fire and Rescue services.
