50 fire recruits start training in Tobago

Fifty Tobago firefighter recruits began training on Friday at the training centre in Argyle, Tobago East.

The group were among the 60 who were given confirmation letters dated February 26.

A source told Newsday Tobago that ten recruits had to be put on a waiting list to be accepted in the next batch, as only 50 can be accommodated at any one time.

“The ten that were turned away were on a reserve list. They remain on the reserve at this time, for if anyone falls sick or injured, they will fill those spots based on their merits.

“They knew before coming out that they were on the reserve list,” the source told Newsday.

This follows an incident last Tuesday in which 24 trainees were told during their orientation session, without any explanation, that they would not be allowed to continue, and that trainees from Trinidad would be sent to Tobago to take their places.

The group had already received their confirmation letters as well as the list of items necessary for training.

After interventions by THA Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, Minority Leader Watson Duke and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy, Tobago East MP, it was announced that all 50 Tobagonians originally selected for recruitment would be enrolled for training as scheduled.

Minister of National Security Stuart Young announced this at Thursday’s post-Cabinet news conference.