EDITOR, The Tribune.

GRATEFUL yet again for the opportunity afforded me to be able to raise these several tit bits contained in the caption, in anticipation of it being published for the benefit of the reading Bahamian public.

In making the case, I just would like to proffer remarks based on two criterias, the first as a person familiar with fireman ship, secondly, having feel for what small population will likely need to secure those environments in the family islands:

But, before I do, I just wished to quote an initial construct that the commissioner suggested:

The commissioner of police Santa Knowles cautioned that even if the $12m estimate was approved, the procurement will be slow. One engine takes 17 months to be completed, and shipping. The proposed fleet includes four tankers, three ladder trucks and several fire engines... - just felt the need to furnish some facts about why the differences: usually called pumpers, because of the powerful motor-driven pumps capable of throwing 500-2,000gallons of water per minute. Pumpers draw water from tank trucks, hydrants, or reservoirs and pump it through heavy hoses. Many pumpers carry 200 to 750 gallons of water in booster tanks for the initial attack on a fire. Continuing, the commissioner said that each of the truck or fire apparatuses, would be fully outfitted with gear for officers

Now, as I ponder the numbers, I compare it to the feeding of the 5,000 in sacral scriptures, definitely does need a miracle from on-high, to be able to increase the vehicular numbers for the needs that are cute, especially in the family islands and here’s the calculations, the tabulations:

1...Grand Bahama needs about ten fire trucks, and two aerial ladder trucks, if one is down, you’ll have the other..for a total of 12 fire trucks.

2...Exuma Island, three trucks will suffice.

3...Andros Island divided into north (three), and south (three), for a total of six fire trucks.

4...Abaco Island, four fire trucks.

5...Cat Island, six - three for the north, and three for the south.

6...Long Island, four fire trucks.

7...Inagua Island, three fire trucks.

8...Eleuthera Island, four fire trucks.

9...Bimini Island, three fire trucks.

10...Ragged Island, two fire trucks.

11...Crooked island, three fire trucks.

12...Acklins Island, three fire trucks.

13...Rum Cay, two fire trucks.

14...San Salvador Island, three fire trucks.

NB: I deliberately did not mention New Providence (35 trucks), because as the headquarters, it is anticipated that the bulk of the fire appliances will be stationed in the capital and so, HQ will be able to move them around as the need arises.

There is also the necessity to build structures to double as fire-sheds, firehouses, so I do believe that a more workable figure under all of this would be more like $20m, not $12m as previously figured, just saying.

NB: In your deliberations, if I may, a water tanker the water capacity should try for a 20,000 gallon water tank, and not a 2,000, much easier to deplete the water contained therein, whereas, a 20,000 gallon tank, would more likely get much more of the fire accommodated water wise, than the previous!

2...also, ensure that all of the non-ladder trucks were outfitted with two nozzle-monitors atop each fire apparatuses, for example, the recent Bay Street fire, had the department had had say three of such a fire engines, there would not have been the need to close the international airport and dispatched emergency fire fighting equipment from there to downtown.

FRANK GILBERT

Nassau,

June 30, 2025.