By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard says an FNM administration would establish an independent fire department separate from the police force.

Under such a structure, he indicated that a director would be in charge and would not have to report to the Commissioner of Police.

“We intend to introduce an independent fire department that is not under the Royal Bahamas Police Force Commission's control,” he said Friday in Grand Bahama.

“The government ultimately is responsible for the budget, but you are creating an entirely new structure

While speaking at a public Political Forum held at Life Community Church, Mr Pintard was responding to questions raised about the capacity of emergency services here on the island.   

The FNM leader said the independent fire department will have its own separate budget from the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

He stressed that it will operate and determine its own priorities for equipment and resources.

According to Mr Pintard, under the current system, where the Fire Service falls under the Royal Bahamas Police Force, there are challenges when it comes to resources and priorities.

He noted that fire services sometimes have to compete with other police needs for limited funding.

“You can have a choice being made between taking scarce resources to fix cars versus to fix or purchase a fire truck,” he explained.

Mr Pintard said the goal would be to create a properly resourced department responsible for determining its own operational priorities, including ensuring the country has the necessary number of fire units.

He also suggested expanding the role of volunteer firefighters, particularly in the Family Islands.

“We should not rule out the value of volunteer firefighters,” he said, noting that many residents have equipment or resources that could assist during emergencies but are rarely called upon.

According to Pintard, volunteer fire teams could help strengthen emergency response capacity in communities throughout the country.

“You would recall in Abaco, there was an issue where there was a question of whether a volunteer firefighter can actually handle the equipment to put out fires. And so, just even the certification of who drives is an issue under the hands of the government, and we want to end that,” he said.

There continues to be ongoing concerns about firefighting capacity on Grand Bahama, with only one functioning fire truck for the entire island.

The five fire trucks stationed in Grand Bahama are no longer in operation due to mechanical failure when they were submerged in seawater during Hurricane Dorian, leaving the island reliant on fire resources at Grand Bahama International Airport and from the industrial sector.

The shortage sparked widespread concern among residents, business leaders, and public officials, particularly after last year’s bushfires destroyed homes and damaged businesses, and threatened properties throughout the island.