A Fire Truck, loaned to the Government of Anguilla by the Trinidad and Tobago Government, to service the needs of the Anguillian community, was handed over to the island’s Minister of Communications and Infrastructure, Kenneth Harrigan, on Monday this week.

Government Officials and members of the Anguilla Fire Service

Speaking at the handing over ceremony at Wallblake Airport, Mr. Harrigan said the fire-fighting vehicle was made available to replace one of Anguilla’s main fire trucks which overturned and was badly damaged on the Little Dix road on July 14 this year. It was then travelling to the Shoal Bay area to rescue a driver trapped in a vehicle following an accident there. He said the mishap, which put the fire truck out of commission, affected the Government’s ability to protect the lives and properties of all persons on the island.

Mr. Harrigan noted that the Anguilla Fire Service was divided into two units: a domestic unit and an airport unit, the latter of which was not affected by the accident. “After the accident the Government of Anguilla did a number of things,” he went on. “They wrote to a number of countries to request a loan of a fire truck. Trinidad and Tobago was the first to respond, indicating that they would give us assistance. I would like to thank the two officers from Trinidad [Leon Issacs and Fabia Stewart] who are here to turn over the fire truck to us. I would also like to thank the Trinidad and Tobago Government, the Minister of National Security, the Prime Minister, other Ministers and the people.”

The Anguillian Minister was grateful to Junie Fleming for assisting in removing the damaged fire truck from blocking the road; to Monroe Webster and the vehicle repair workmen at the Department of Infrastructure who assisted him in repairing the government-owned old fire truck which substituted as a community fire tender; and to Joseph Vanterpool who provided the needed water at fires at the prison and the Orealia Kelly School at Stoney Ground. “Anguilla would have been in a difficult position if that truck was not repaired to help in the situation,” he stated. The Minister disclosed that his Ministry was working with the insurance company to sort out the necessary claims; that the suppliers of the damaged truck would be arriving in Anguilla shortly to inspect the vehicle, and two Anguillian engineers would be travelling to the United States to look for a replacement.

Leon Issacs told the gathering, which included Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, other Ministers and local fire-fighters, that he and his colleague, from the Engineering Department of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service, were grateful to have been invited to the handing over ceremony. He regretted the delay in the arrival of the fire truck which had to be supplied with a different engine to replace the one which broke down while the vehicle was being driven to the port for shipment to Anguilla.

Mr. Issacs said the Mercedes Bens/Rosenburg fire truck, with a horsepower of 11,240 tons, was equipped with a six-cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine with direct injection and a displacement of 6,000 centimetres. Among other features, the vehicle has a guaranteed acceleration from zero to 80 kilometres per hour in less than 40 seconds to ensure rapid response to a fire scene. It carries a 3,000-litre water tank with two hose reels on either side, each of 40 metres in length.

Handing over of keys to Hon. Kenneth Harrigan

The Trinidad Fire Service engineer spoke in detail to the Anguillian firefighters about the importance of the operation and maintenance of the vehicle to ensure a good working service. He was grateful for the hospitality extended to him and his colleague by Government officials and members of the Anguilla Fire Service, and was happy that his country was in a position to assist the island at a time of need.

Just before the handing over of the vehicle, a prayer of blessing was delivered by Pastor Cecil Richardson of the Central Baptist Church. The keys to the fire truck were presented to Mr. Harrigan, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communications, who in turn to passed them on to Chief Fire Officer, Martin Richardson.

The handing over ceremony was chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Larry Franklin.

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