Gov’t advancing modern, decentralised firefighting service – PM Phillips

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) the Hon. Mark Phillips, says the Government of Guyana is moving toward a modern, decentralised approach to firefighting – one designed to strengthen emergency response and improve service delivery nationwide.

Speaking Wednesday at the Guyana Fire Service Officers’ Conference 2026, held at Eve Leary, the Prime Minister said firefighters must be equipped and ready to respond to all forms of disaster, not just fires.

“We are no longer living in an era where we can afford to look at a house fire and ignore the car crash down the street,” PM Phillips asserted.

He emphasised that today’s fire service must serve as “the first line of defence” in every emergency -whether traffic accidents, floods, wildfires, or hazardous material incidents.

The Prime Minister announced that government policy is shifting away from a centralised model, embracing instead a hybrid structure that combines professional firefighters with community-based response units. “The era of the centralised fire service is coming to an end,” he declared.

Under the new plan, each Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is expected to receive its own fire tender to ensure faster response times in both coastal and hinterland regions.

PM Phillips noted that government investment in the sector has now exceeded $3.5 billion over the past five years.

He said the funds are not only for new vehicles but also to expand capacity, improve training, and build a modern organisational structure.

“The era of scarcity is over. The era of strategic investment has begun,” the Prime Minister declared, adding that these initiatives form part of a broader effort to modernise Guyana’s firefighting capabilities in line with the country’s rapid economic growth.

He said the Officers’ Conference provides an important platform for reflection and planning as Guyana strengthens its national emergency and disaster response systems for the future.