Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, says the Government will be spending significant sums to improve fire stations across the island.

He says repair work is already under way at the Buff Bay and Port Antonio stations in Portland, and more than $6 million will be spent to construct a perimeter fence at the Negril station in Westmoreland.

McKenzie says funding has been provided to upgrade the courtyard at the Junction Fire Station in St Elizabeth and the mayor of Black River has been asked to provide an estimate of repairs for the Black River station.  

He says funds will also be allocated to retrofit two fire units in Westmoreland so they can be brought back into use.

The local government minister was speaking at a ceremony at the Junction Fire Station on Friday, where Japan’s ambassador to Jamaica, Masanori Nakano, officially handed over three fire-fighting trucks and a water tanker to serve St Elizabeth and adjoining parishes.