Office of the Prime Minister

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Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Local Government, Hon. Robert Montague, delivers the main address at the opening of the 8th annual Conference of the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs yesterday (Nov.16) at the Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay St. James. The week-long conference ends on Friday (Nov. 20).

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with special responsibility for Local Government, Hon. Robert Montague, has called on fire chiefs in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean to renew their commitment to accountability.

"In addition to showing loving concern for those we lead and serve, it is imperative that we, as leaders, reiterate our commitment to accountability. This means that we hold ourselves to high standards and refuse to blame others or give excuses for unacceptable performance. As fire service chiefs and administrators, you are ultimately responsible to the people you serve," Mr. Montague stated.

He was giving the main address at the opening of the 8th annual Conference of the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) on November 16 at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay St. James.

According to Mr. Montague, it is in keeping with the need for increased accountability that the Jamaica Fire Brigade launched its Citizen's Charter in September of this year, which holds the brigade to the highest standards of conduct, service and performance.

"These standards must be clear enough to be understood by those we lead and those we serve, so we can be evaluated both internally and externally by citizens," the Minister of State pointed out.

Fire Chiefs from the region are in the island for the 8th annual Conference of the Caribbean Association of Fire Chiefs, which opened yesterday (Nov.16) at the Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay St. James.

Noting that the "textbook approach" in which firemen are operating is inadequate, he urged them to move towards adopting the concept of "business unusual."

"It challenges you to be proactive rather than reactive. It challenges you to stand out and be counted. It challenges you to do things differently in your organisation in order to get things done and to generate the response from your staff and the public you serve in a different way.

"Fire chiefs, business unusual is not about sitting at a desk and issuing instructions ... it is about being a living example to your fire fighters, being on the scene of a fire if you can ... it is about finding economical ways to generate income and supplement your subventions. It means thinking like a businessman," he pointed out.

Mr. Montague urged the firefighters to maintain high levels of commitment to duty and responsible approach to the task at hand, noting that it is in providing superior service that the Caribbean brand of fire service will be strengthened.

The one-week conference of Caribbean fire chiefs ends on Friday, November 20.

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