Officers from the St. John Fire Station have been recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty to assist those in the communities, and in providing a service.
And, as a result, the station has captured the coveted Watch of the Year and Station of the Year awards at the Barbados Fire Service’s annual awards ceremony recently, for the third successive year.
Two of the station’s supervisors, acting Leading Fire Officers, Carlos Bishop and Andrea Williams, received leadership awards this year for their initiative and positive influence on their immediate subordinates and other members of staff.
“The officers of the St. John Fire Station have set an inordinately high standard of community service, and have demonstrated by their continued commitment to these types of activities that people matter,” acting Fire Chief, Henderson Patrick, said.
He explained that in October, the fire officers, along with Anderson Cherry of José Y José Liquid and Solid Waste Management Inc., undertook a project at the St. Philip District Hospital to provide wheel chairs, gift baskets and trolleys to the institution. They also beautified a room and carried out minor repairs on the plumbing fixtures at the facility.
Mr. Patrick further noted that it was expected that firefighters would provide solutions for a variety of issues which may impact the communities in which they serve. “This has become not only an expectation for the fire officers at the St. John Fire Station, but the norm,” he stated.
He said other programmes undertaken were targeted at the disadvantaged in the community, and usually sought to meet specific needs either in relation to persons’ safety or welfare.
The acting Fire Chief said those activities usually ranged from providing Christmas food hampers for needy families, painting the homes or building concrete pathways for the elderly, to rendering assistance at public elder care residential institutions.
“The administration of the Barbados Fire Service takes this opportunity to laud these officers for their achievements and for the care they have extended to their community through their selfless service,” Mr. Patrick said.