National Assembly’s defence committee visits FCIU, SFRSA |06 November 2021
Following a familiarisation visit to the head office of the Financial Crime Investigation Unit (FCIU) at Perseverance on Thursday, the members of the National Assembly’s Defence and Security Committee chaired by Hon. Clifford Andre yesterday morning carried out a similar visit to the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA).
The visit forms part of a series of visits by the committee to security and intelligence entities for onsite information on the services being carried out and also to learn on the successes and challenges being faced.
Those visits also give members of the committee the opportunity to see and discuss their requirements in line with their respective requested budget that will be discussed in the National Assembly.
The members were met on arrival by chief fire officer Albert Rose, deputy chief fire officer Regis Bethew and other senior fire fighters and senior management staff.
They were first guided on a tour of the facility which included the watch room where information are received and disseminated, the prevention room for fire safety inspection at places including assessing of building plans with regard to safety against fire, the training unit for its staff and government employees and private organisations, the workshop and the fire tenders including water bowser and a hydraulic turn table ladder. It is to be noted that SFRSA also has the responsibility of lifeguard operations around the country.
The SFRSA employs 211 staff working at the Victoria station and the Anse Boileau sub-station on Mahé, the station on Ile Eve Island on Praslin and the sub-station on La Digue.
Among the fire fighters are 16 women fire fighters. Eight are based at the Victoria station, four are based at the Praslin fire station, three are based at the la Digue sub-station and one is based at the Anse Boileau sub-station.
The fire fighters work 24 hours on a rotation basis (8am to 4pm and 4pm to 8am the following day).
Chief fire officer Rose said the main challenge is a lack of manpower, of resources and of equipment to fulfill the tasks.
He also noted that the watch room is in need of a modern communication system to quickly assist in emergency cases.
He said that the Victoria station needs to be relocated in another area as it sits in a danger red zone surrounded by businesses storing inflammable chemicals that puts the station at risk in case of a fire outbreak.
Mr Rose said that it was with honour that they have welcomed the members of the committee so that they get to see for themselves their working conditions, including the equipment being used, for them to assist the agency with the required budget allocation to improve their working environment so as to deliver a better service.
As the committee did not have the time to discuss with the staff at the Victoria station, Hon. Andre said that the committee, who has already visited and discussed with the firefighters on Praslin and La Digue, will come back to the Victoria station for discussion with the staff and will also visit the Anse Boileau fire station.
He noted that the visits to the Victoria fire station, the Ile Eve fire station and at the sub-station on La Digue as well as further visits to other entities will boost their knowledge and understanding to answer to the needs of the agency to deliver a better service, when its budget will be discussed in the National Assembly.
The other members of the committee present were Hon. Audrey Vidot, Hon. Churchill Gill and Hon. Michel Roucou . Hon. Doyace Porice, Hon. Sandy Arissol and Hon. François Adelaide were not present.
The accompanying photos show members of the committee interacting with SFRSA staff during the visit.
Patrick Joubert
Photos by Thomas Meriton
