|
FIREBREAK The Newsletter of the Jamaica Fire Brigade | |
| Vol. 5 |
March 2002 |
In an unprecedented move by the administration of the Brigade, District Officer Moreen Thompson has been promoted to Assistant Superintendent and assigned to act as Divisional Head of the Hanover Division with effect from Friday 18 March 2002, until further notice. Ms. Thompson who was a supervisor of the Emergency Medical Service in Negril has twenty-five years service in the Brigade and has completed many hours of training including the Caribbean Junior Command and Staff course at Newcastle, and EMS Training at the University of the West Indies and St. Joseph's Hospital in the Cayman Islands. This movement of Ms. Thompson into what is evidently a clear vacancy has effectively smashed the proverbial class ceiling that has stood as barrier to the continued upward mobility of women in different organizations. Clearly a message is being sent by the Brigade that persons are selected on the basis of qualifications, ability and merit, and definitely not by gender. With the current trend at most educational institutions where female graduates out number their male counterparts we can expect more women to forge their way into the leadership of the Fire Brigade.
Portland Division Offers Flood Relief
Members of the Portland Division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade contributed clothing and
toiletry at
a
value of over ninety thousand dollars ($90,000.00) to victims of the October
flood rains that lashed the eastern end of the island late last year. The goods
were handed over on Thursday 20 December 2001 by District Officer Marcia Harris,
Sergeant Johnson and Lance Corporal Carol Wilmot. The gesture was well received
by the victims of
the onslaught . At the same time the Portland Division was also
a recipient of goodwill as during the months September to December they received
gifts from various corporate entities and individuals These included Digicel and
Cable and Wireless. Congratulations District Officer Lannie Sinclair, currently acting as Staff
Officer to the Commissioner recently received the Associate Degree in Accounting
from the Management Institute for National Development. The course was completed
over two and a half years part-time. Firebreak also congratulates District
Officer Marcia Harris, Fire Prevention Officer of the Portland Division who was
appointed a Justice of the Peace for Portland 30th January
2002. Brigade Gets New
Board The Minister of Local Government and community Development The
Honorable Arnold Bertram recently appointed a new Board of Directors for the
Brigade. The members of the Board are drawn from both the private and public
sectors. Only board chairman Mr. D. T. Brown remains from the previous board,
The seven member board is as follows Mr D. T. Brown - Chairman
Councillor Brenda Ramsey
Colonel Bruce Barclay
Mr. Robert Hendricks
Dr. M. Bullock-Ducasse
Major George Benson
Brigade Scores At Expo! The Jamaica Fire Brigade came
in second in their category at the recently held career
expo at UWI. The expo is an annual
event that brings private and public organizations into the university to inform
under-graduates and high school students about the various career options open
to them. Exhibitors are awarded prizes in different
categories depending on whether they are profit oriented businesses or public
sector entities. The Brigade placed second behind a well represented team from
the Police Force. Congratulations to Assistant Commissioner Mattocks and the
other members of the Brigade's team.
The
Ideal Promotional Prospect Lynden Mattocks Let me borrow a pet phrase from one of our officers to assist me
to express the fact that I am being "brutally frank" in saying that my years of
service in the Fire Brigade taught me that firefighters who are not prepared to
contribute to the growth of a changing Brigade should not seek or accept
promotion.
We all enter the Brigade through a selection /entry process that
creates a competing atmosphere. There is nothing wrong with that except that
some of us who should not be selected, slipped through and are now at the point
in our career where it is time for the first or yet another promotional
examination. Now is the time for such of us to pause, do some soul searching and
answer the following questions: Do I possess the traits and characteristics that
will have an un-going positive effect on the fire Brigade? Do I harbour positive
feelings towards the Brigade? Am I a team player? If one cannot give honest
affirmative answers to these questions, it is advisable not to sit the
promotional exams now being offered. Why seek upward mobility in the fire
Brigade if one cannot demonstrate a sincere realistic appreciation for the job?
If one has a clear picture of the duties but lack the will to perform, that
person can retard the progress of the organization. The Jamaica Fire Brigade
cannot afford that 'luxury" at this time. At present in the Brigade we find some
individuals who possess a measure of enthusiasm but will not be able to or are
unwilling to adjust to change. The Brigade will soon outgrow such persons as
there is no place for a 1987 model firefighter in the year 2002. We are courting
trouble with job satisfaction and acceptance of change in the future if these
persons are promoted. These persons are not aware that "what does not grow,
dies" and when the Brigade grows, it must change. The fact is that the job is
changing and will continue to change. An in- ability or unwillingness to accept
this fact will result in negative, dissatisfied firefighters and officers in the
future. As in every organization with a large number of people there
exist some persons who are ideal for upward mobility. Some are readily
identified due to where they are located in the system and or their "work
aggressive"attitude. Others are quiet in nature but can be "felt" by leadership.
It is from among these that leadership, many times, draws its energies. Although
exposed to the old ways, they possess attitudes that welcome positive
change. The Fire Brigade must rely on diversity but in the same breath,
for it to be successful the individuals in the service must possess the
abilities and inclination to serve others and work as team members; very few
duties in the Brigade are performed alone. Inability to work within a team will
have both emotional and physical impacts on the team and will affect their
performance. Let us face facts. Our Fire Brigade, like all other Brigades
made hiring errors in the past by taking some people who were not suited for the
job. Some of these people are still with us today and will be seeking
promotions. They are the ones who will become negative influences and spread
dissatisfaction throughout the Brigade. They are the ones to accept that if they
cannot grow with the Brigade they should do the honourable thing and allow a
great service organization to grow. I cannot deny the fact that those whom I am
imploring not to seek promotion are in the minority. There are many who are
suited for the Brigade and my advice to them is go for it! I am being brutally
frank. St. Thomas Farewell The evening of Saturday 23rd March, 2002 was one of
mixed emotions as Firefighters, friends and well wishers gathered to pay tribute
to Winston Davis, outgoing Divisional Head, St. Thomas Division. The ceremony was held at the Yallahs Fire Station which was
tastefully decorated for the occasion. The guests were headed by the Mayor of
Morant Bay, Councillor Owen Atkinson and Acting Secretary Manager of the St.
Thomas Parish Council, Mr. Clinton Gordon. The programme, chaired by Sergeant Lloyd Johnson featured
musical and other tributes to Mr. Davis. One high point was a special tribute by
Senior Deputy Superintendent Denzil Kerr who enlisted with Mr. Davis on the
16th May 1966. He took the audience through an anecdotal review of
their training and subsequent first years on the job. Mr. Davis has completed thirty-five (35) years and nine (9)
months of firefighting service to the Jamaica Fire Brigade and was noted for his
dignity and quiet. Firebreak joins in the tribute to
Mr. Davis and we hope all his endeavors will be blessed. Wage Negotiations Completed Completion of the Wage Negotiations for non-uniformed
administrative staff was announced at the General Meeting of the Jamaica Civil
Service Association held on Monday 4th February 2002 at Jacisera
Park. The meeting which got off to a very late start was chaired by Mr. Wayne
Jones. This is a four (4) year contract from April 1, 2002 to March 31,
2006, that will cause salaries of civil servants to make incrementally each year
to eventually to 80% of the market value as received by the private sector.
Retroactive payment for the period April 1, 2002 - 31 March 31, 2002 will be
paid on 23rd August 2002. JFB In San Diego! Women in the Fire Service Inc. recently held an international
seminar at the Bahia Hotel, San Diego, California. The seminar was held between
March 8-10, 2002. Two (2) representatives were sent from the Jamaica Fire Brigade,
District Officer E. Lothian-Palmer and Lance Corporal Julian Davis. Topics
discussed were: - Confronting Racism Internal Sexism Crisis in the Environment Coaching for Leaders Sexual Harassment According to the delegates, the seminar was short but very
informative. Women firefighters in Jamaica do not experience racism, but it does
exist abroad. One of the presenters shared her experiences of how it affected
her being promoted to the position of a Fire Chief. Both participants agreed it was a memorable experience and hope
that other female Firefighters could be afforded the chance to attend in the
future. Dear Reader This is the first issue of Firebreak
for the year and we are happy to launch the new format of the news
letter as promised. This year we want to move away from straight reporting, to
include more feature articles and profiles of persons within the Brigade. As
well, we plan to include an entertainment feature. To accomplish this, we need your support in the form of
articles, short stories, news bits etc. We would also like feedbacks on ways to
continue to improve the product to better serve you. You are also invited to
visit the Jamaica Fire Brigade web site at http://www.jamaica-firebrigade.com.
This issue we have reproduced two of the entries from our guest book which we
thought all should share. Let us hear from you soon. Editor. Feedback On The Brigade Once again I must say how overwhelmed I am reading the good
comments being made by visitors from all over the world to this site. It is very
encouraging when people can take the time out to acknowledge and to give
commendation when it is due. I want to congratulate Deputy Commissioner
Frederick Whyte who worked very hard to make this site a reality. It is a very
informative and interesting site. It therefore made me wonder whether or not
those who are responsible to fund the Jamaica Fire Brigade ever visited the
site, since the Brigade has been suffering from "FINANCIAL DROUGHT" for many,
many years now. I really sympathized with Commissioner Benson who has virtually
been given "BASKET TO CARRY WATER", and I can tell you, he surely has tried his
best. Hats off to you Major Benson, I know if you were given the resources, you
would do wonders. Co-workers and friends, I really though that the 9-11 event
would have hit our leaders in a way so as to having them rendering some overdue
pity on us, but what can I say! It doesn't matter one bit. However, we are
professionals and we were trained to do a job, we therefore are going to do it
to the best of our ability, with or without the limited resources given to us.
May GOD help us keep the faith. Name: Lannie Sinclair Name: Bedford Brown E-Mail:bedfordbrown@hotmail.com Location: Port Chester New York USA
Out Of The Mouth Of Babes Little Johnny watched, fascinated, as his
mother smoothed cold cream on her face. "Why do you do that , mommy?" he asked.
"To make myself beautiful," said his mother, who then began removing the cream
with a tissue. "What's the matter?," asked Little Johnny. "Giving
up?"
Thought For Today
Generosity gives assistance rather than advice
Vauvenargues
Condolences
Firebreak extends condolences to the following persons who recently lost loved ones.
Lordel Bruce - Mother
Valbert Lawrence - Father
Lloyd Nugent - Mother
Aldaine Coley - Grandmother
Nadine Bruce-Crosdale - Grand - mother.