Fire tenders in Tobago and South Trinidad are without fuel and cannot respond to emergencies even though its supplier, National Petroleum, has agreed to deliver a supply in the face of a growing debt.
Chief Fire Officer Nyar Rampersad said in a phone interview yesterday that the outstanding diesel fuel bill was as high as $180,000.
Rampersad said up to late yesterday morning attempts were being made to rectify this problem.
“The problem is with National Petroleum (NP) delivery. Tobago is a problem and we were working on it and we are trying to get it resolved. We got fuel at Chaguanas and headquarters (Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain) but challenges in Tobago,” he said.
Rampersad said the diesel ran low because officers had to respond to an increased number of accidents.
He said two solutions were having timely submission of bills on NP’s part and raising in the credit limit of the Fire Service.
“I asked them to increase the credit limit through the permanent secretary and I feel it was not substantial.
“We exhaust the limit in quick time but it (credit limit) was not increased and we had to work with that.
“We have more appliances, road accidents and emergencies,” he said.
Rampersad said a bill of $180,000 which was owing to NP was nearly cleared.
“The majority was cleared off. It is not a new problem. We had several meetings with NP and identified the problems we faced,” he said.
Fire Services Association president Leo Ramkissoon said fire fighters were angry and could not take much more of the treatment and would soon act out.
Ramkissoon said the headquarters received a supply of diesel on Carnival Friday.
“But Tobago has nothing up to now and south remains low. That is just public relations (last week). The problem is a symptom of mismanagement in the service. We are thankful that NP is assisting the service in the supply of fuel. However, we are we greater problems of the service,” he said.
He said the service was in need of basic fire fighting equipment, life preserving equipment, fire kits, uniforms and other equipment.
Ramkissoon said the stalled wage negotiations also has added fuel to the rage among the fire fighters.
The current negotiations is for the period between 2011 to 2013, he said.
He said fire fighters were also owed backpay from their last wage settlement.
“They are very much upset and even if they get a good outcome of negotiations. When will we get that? Retirement?...officers can’t take it anymore,” he said.