[TonyO]

I saw on the Toronto CP 24 News last night, the Barbados Fire Chief accepting a donation from the Toronto Fire Service of used fire-fighter protective clothing and equipment. As a proud Barbadian who has always considered us as a leader among the Caribbean nations; could not help but think. "Is this what we have come to"?

Don't get me wrong, it is good to see the recycling of good equipment that otherwise might have just been dumped, but I could not help but feel that, have we reached the stage that we have to go with hat in hand looking for hand-me-downs to supply our fire service. Most Barbadians do not consider themselves as Third World yet why does our government let one our most important public service branches be treated as such.?

Maybe I am just a little too PROUD of our PROUD little nation.

This post has been edited by TonyO: 02 June 2007 - 09:34 AM

[stiab3]

That sounds more than a little odd indeed.
Who de hell does accept used protective equipment? Dah's the most stupid thing I evah here.

What next? used condoms?!

s3

[Snoop]

I made a comment some time back about the sorry state of one fire station I observed while on a visit home. The building was black with age and a good number of the letters announcing the name of the fire station were either off or hanging. I felt bad. Mind you, this was the fire station right along the tourist belt (the one near Accra Beach). If that is the way the fire stations operate, then we shouldn't be surprised that they're accepting hand-me-down protective gear from Canada.

[Kem]

I made a comment some time back about the sorry state of one fire station I observed while on a visit home. The building was black with age and a good number of the letters announcing the name of the fire station were either off or hanging. I felt bad. Mind you, this was the fire station right along the tourist belt (the one near Accra Beach). If that is the way the fire stations operate, then we shouldn't be surprised that they're accepting hand-me-down protective gear from Canada.

Call me poor great or whatever you like but this is something that I am not to excited about. My national motto is Pride and Industry and to me this does not reflect such.

[Baby_Diamond]

I am hoping that it was some error on the news reporter’s part. I would rather believe that, than to believe that we would stoop so low.

[Snoop]

Well Tony boy, the firemen are decked out in their new old gear. (They say it's new gear.) They say it's part of a goodwill mission. Seems to be more of a Goodwill Industries mission to me.

Fire Service receives new gear
Published on: 6/8/07.

LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS are now better equipped for their job, thanks to the Toronto Fire Services.

As part of a goodwill mission undertaken with the help of Air Canada Vacations, Toronto Fire Services yesterday donated 50 helmets and 50 sets of bunker gear.

Deputy Chief Jim Shelton said his service decided to give the equipment because firefighting was a brotherhood.

During a presentation ceremony at Barbados Fire Service headquarters on Probyn Street, Shelton said they wanted to assist in keeping firefighters safe.

Mayers said they had benefited from training and other exchanges with metropolitan fire services. (WB)

[goldenboy]

I have to grin, so if you are offered a 2nd hand Porsche each your gonna turn it down because of "pride"

Im sorry if something is better than you have its better full stop!

[Baby_Diamond]

I have to grin, so if you are offered a 2nd hand Porsche each your gonna turn it down because of "pride"

Im sorry if something is better than you have its better full stop!

I can see your point.

[stiab3]

I have to grin, so if you are offered a 2nd hand Porsche each your gonna turn it down because of "pride"

Im sorry if something is better than you have its better full stop!

But some things you can not guarantee in a secondhand state.
This is safety equipment, not a car.

Can they guarantee the safety of those who use the equipment?

s3

[Atlas]

But some things you can not guarantee in a secondhand state.
This is safety equipment, not a car.

Can they guarantee the safety of those who use the equipment?

s3

This is the part of this scenario that worried me too. Moreso than accepting secondhand goods. I just hope that our people had checked the stuff out before they accepted it, and more importantly, that they do before they begin using it in real, life threatening situations.

[goldenboy]

This is the part of this scenario that worried me too. Moreso than accepting secondhand goods. I just hope that our people had checked the stuff out before they accepted it, and more importantly, that they do before they begin using it in real, life threatening situations.

I have seen the standard of some of the equipment in bim and to be frank a dmap tea towel would be better LOL

[stiab3]

I have seen the standard of some of the equipment in bim and to be frank a dmap tea towel would be better LOL

LoL.

If that's the case then they've done the right thing. But I still hope they allocate some budget to buy some new stuff though.

s3

[Atlas]

I have seen the standard of some of the equipment in bim and to be frank a dmap tea towel would be better LOL

All fine and good. They knew what they had in the past and worked within those limitations. They should know what they are actually getting now too and have prepared themselves to work within those limitations. I don't know what specific equipment they got but I hope they have the correct measure of it.

[Snoop]

I have seen the standard of some of the equipment in bim and to be frank a dmap tea towel would be better LOL

After seeing the condition of the fire station some years ago you're probably right, but what does that say about a country with First World aspirations? If this is "new" equipment I say take it gladly. The fire service is a vital national organization. Less on tourist frills and more on the essentials I say.

The story never mentions anything about used equipment.

This post has been edited by Snoop: 08 June 2007 - 12:07 PM

[Baby_Diamond]

But some things you can not guarantee in a secondhand state.
This is safety equipment, not a car.

Can they guarantee the safety of those who use the equipment?

s3

I am hoping, and willing to give our fire department the benefit of the doubt that they are not so daft as to accept equipment that would compromise their safety when used. That they are capable of discerning whether or not the donation was indeed one that will benefit them.

[Baby_Diamond]

I have seen the standard of some of the equipment in bim and to be frank a dmap tea towel would be better LOL

How u does find time to be in from wine to iodine.. U got some kinda super power we do not know about... What do u do when u come on holiday? spend ur days in our police departments, fire departments, hospitals, etc. Cause you seem to have more info bout the things dat going on down hay that the people who actually live hay. Or maybe your real address is someplace down Black Rock.

[goldenboy]

How u does find time to be in from wine to iodine.. U got some kinda super power we do not know about... What do u do when u come on holiday? spend ur days in our police departments, fire departments, hospitals, etc. Cause you seem to have more info bout the things dat going on down hay that the people who actually live hay. Or maybe your real address is someplace down Black Rock.

Friends my dear, friends, we are an international brotherhood of friends LOL

[Bendedknees]

I still doan like the idea of accepting second hand stuff. the fire service is an essential service for crissakes!