Uniformed firefighters, staff to receive HEART/NSTA training

Some 1,065 uniformed firefighters and civilian staff of the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) are expected to benefit from training and certification through an agreement with the HEART/NSTA Trust.

Stewart Beckford, commissioner of the JFB, said the training will result in members of staff being certified in different areas, including various critical administrative roles within the organisation.

“We are looking at training firefighters from level two to level four in terms of firefighting operations, but there are other subject areas that we are also looking to tap into in relation to our non-uniform members of staff,” said Commissioner Beckford.

He noted that among the other areas of focus are procurement, finance and accounts, and human resources.

Commissioner Beckford said that procurement is a critical area for the JFB, as it “spends billions of dollars each year” to ensure readiness and response capabilities.

He further stressed the importance of training personnel in the HR department.

“We value the HR department in terms of the work that they do there. So, we want to make sure that we upskill all the members in that department to treat with the welfare of the staff because firefighting is a hazardous profession and we do from time to time have welfare issues to treat with. We want to make sure that we strengthen our HR Department,” said Commissioner Beckford.

The agreement, which facilitates the training, was signed in 2023 between the JFB and the HEART/NSTA Trust St. Andrew Parish office as part of its Workforce Development initiative.

- JIS