‘Nothing contentious’ in fire service report

| 21/05/2015 | 23 Comments

(CNS Video): The chief officer in the Home Affairs Ministry has said there is nothing contentious about a report he commissioned to take a closer look at the Cayman Islands Fire Service and the challenges it faces. Speaking to Kenneth Bryan, Eric Bush described the report as a peer review to help the ministry make the necessary improvements to the local service.  He said the findings were not unexpected or “scandalous” and the 18 recommendations were reasonable.

Cayman News Service

Eric Bush, Chief Officer Home Affairs Ministry

Bush said the ministry will be acting on them and will be holding meetings with employees this week to begin discussing those recommendations.

The CIFS has faced numerous issues and problems over the years with pay, equipment and morale, all causing problems for the critical emergency service. The report posted below outlines some of those problems but importantly outlines ways the authorities can address them and create a more efficient and better managed organization.

Check back to CNS for more video reports soon.

Review of the Cayman Islands Fire Service – P Holland (Jan/Feb 2014)

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Comments (23)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I’ve never seen a so claimed caymanian who wants to replace all caymanians. This man right there should be ashamed of how he deals with caymanians.

  2. Anonymous says:

    So many thumbs down to 7:14 comments, but when your house is burning down, I bet you all pick up the phone and dial the fire service and will thank their bravery then.

    • Anonymous says:

      I will tell you why. Because this is Caymanians in this department that is why. If it was the other way around, and this department was majority expat, the support from those who hide behind anonymity would be finding all reasons why it shouldn’t change.

  3. Funky Cold Medina says:

    I will agree with you totally anon 7:14am and that is because we simply have no police but imported rubble. On numerous occasions i have witnessed the fire officers directing traffic at several fatal and serious accidents while our beloved police stood up like spectators at the scene with hands in pocket gawking!!! Remember what our beloved commissioner said they are not here for that but to reflect the diversity our little island and he forgot to mention to push and exert the interest of their fellow countrymen and trust me when I tell that they do quite well with prejudice!

  4. Anonymous says:

    As a retired fireman, I wonder where have all the discipline gone from the fire service? As an officer we had better not be seen in the public without being proper dressed and I mean from head to toe. You had to be able to see your face in your shoes. Not today, I see fire officers while on duty in public places, in deplorable conditions, shirt out of pants, baggy pants, coveralls pulled off their shoulders and dropped down around their waist and their shoes looked like they had never been touched for years and the amount of jewelry which is a hazard on its own. When I see them I am ashamed to be an retired officer and I have also spoken the same to a number of them. I cannot believe that senior officers are allowing staff to fall-in for duty in these conditions.
    When I there we were ruled by an iron fist. Mr Nixon was CFO, but the Administration was ran by Martinez, he was a no nonsense man, who had no problem doing his job, showed no favoritism among his staff. The Fire Service Operational Orders were our bible and the General Orders was used to hire or fire you. He had one saying “everyone deserve a chance and I will give you two, but by the third I know you know this is not the place for you”. When Mr Nixon was leaving for vacation or official travel he always would say to us gentlemen I am leaving for # days, but I know many of you won’t be here when I return. Fire service helped many delinquent young men become outstanding men because of this kind of discipline.
    The success of the department was because of trust, confidences and respect we had for each other, we all knew that Mr. Nixon was CFO, Martinez was Deputy Administration, Grant operations, Ms. Jenny Finance, Ms. Linda, Ms Maude, Ellakay-HR, Doorly -Fire prevention and Dennom – Frank Sound. Each person was allowed to run their section, lending whatever assistance to the other.
    Thanks to each of the persons listed above for making me a better more respective citizen, husband, father and friend.
    Mr. Bush first thing you need to do is find someone able and willing to bring the discipline back in the service as it seems the entire structures has fallen down. save our young men and women.

  5. Anonymous says:

    I don’t know what is in the report, but I thank firefighters every day. I would never be brave enough to step inside a burning building or be near harmful flames. They are also usually first responders at car accidents. To me, brave men and women and I thank them for their service.

  6. Anonymous says:

    The problem with the FS was unfortunately placed at the feet of the ex-acting Fire Chief but what about his predecessors? Where were the succession planning for what was a 100% Caymanian controlled entity. And to make matters more interesting two of the previous postholders were called out of retirement; one to act as the interim FC and the other as Strategic Advisor. How much did this cost the taxpayer?

  7. Funkycold Medina says:

    What the report highlights however is the clear lack of leadership and ineptness of the previous or past Fire Chief’s. Who unfortunately now sit on various boards and commissions in the almost the same advisory capacity because of political and secret handshake patronage! What a shame the PPM suffers from the same very virus they accused the UDP off NepoCronitis!!

    • Anonymous says:

      There is no accountability within the ministry starting at the CO level and the departments under his control CIFS RCIPS Immigration department and HMPS. Any where else heads would roll but lodge runs these islands

  8. Anonymous says:

    Though this report is like all such reports in that it is written in tactful diplomatic language, it is actually scathing in its criticism and makes it very clear that CIFS is a dysfunctional unit where firemen don’t respond to fitness programs by citing ludicrous excuses and managers make claims about how good the performance is according to “reports” from overseas but then never submit these “reports” as proof to the review team. Chaotic.

    • Anonymous says:

      You wanna talk dysfunctual take a look at the ambulance service. Loads of uncaring , untrained, unhealthy looking people there. I called them once and all the guy did was try and talk me out of going to the hospital. No compassion or concern for what was happening with me.

    • Anonymous says:

      At least this report was published unlike the various ones on JGHS which have been altered to make it less bad because it had a Cayman Head. So in this case well done to those in charge who released the Fire Service report despite it being scathing.

  9. Anonymous says:

    As Chief Officer, Eric Bush needs to be held accountable for all the administratve messes in his Ministry and those Departments which fall under his responsibility. How many more problems in HM Prison system (Northward & Fairbanks) and CIFS must occur before he has to answer?? No accountability at the top! The real problem in CIG!!

  10. Anonymous says:

    Some would argue that looking the other way on arsen and insurance fraud events is a contentious enabling force for crime in this territory.

  11. Anonymous says:

    A volunteer fire service is all that is needed on such a tiny island.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Eric life could be better for you, the public and the fire service if only that women boss from your office would leave firefighting to firefighters. Micro management failed before it began.

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