HARBEL, Margibi – 20 personnel of the Fire and Rescue Department of the Roberts International Airport have returned home following a two-month intensive training in fire and rescue operations at the Ghana Airports Company Limited Fire Fighting School in Accra.
The trained firefighters traveled by Air Cote D’Ivoire and returned to RIA on Saturday.
Receiving the team, RIA Deputy General Manager for Technical Services, Paula Fares Harvey, said preliminary reports from Ghana indicate that the firefighters were rated high during the training.
She admonished them to use the skills acquired to impact the work they do.
“Depending on how you perform going forward, this is the beginning of what you should expect from RIA,†she said.
She said the RIA is prepared to reward excellent performers.
Firefighters along with some administrators staffs upon arrival at the RIA, Photo: Gbatemah Senah
Speaking earlier, the team leader of the trained firefighters, Emmanuel Simpson, expressed gratitude and appreciation to the management of the airport for the training opportunity. He said with the new set of skills he is confident that their performance level will improve.
“I, on behalf of myself and colleagues, appreciate the government of Liberia through the RIA management for the opportunity afforded us to advance our skills,†he said.
Moses Zubah, a member of the team, also expressed his gratitude to the RIA for the training opportunity.
He said the training in fire science is a great achievement for him and promised to serve the RIA with commitment and professionalism.
“With the training we have acquired, we are back home and are prepared to respond to all fire emergency in at most three minutes after an outbreak,†he told The Bush Chicken.
RIA management said the capacity building course emphasized aircraft exterior and interior fire fighting. It was designed by the school to build the competence level of trainees in the discharge of their duties. Those trained have been awarded international certificates.
The airport’s general manager, Abraham Simmons, expressed delight in the ability of the firefighters to respond to any aircraft related incident with the new skills they have acquired.
According to a release issued by RIA management, Simmons during the ceremony to mark the close of the training in Accra on Friday, April 10 said the development followed months of engagements with the administration of GACL which resulted in the acceptance of the firefighters to acquire meaningful skills and contribute to the growth and development of the airport.
He said the completion of the training brings the total personnel trained by GACL to 40, so far. He said, in July 2014, the first batch of 20 personnel graduated from the same institution.
“They are now performing diligently at the airport,†he said.
He charged the new graduates to become more efficient and effective in carrying out their job responsibilities.
The release said Simmons is of the conviction that continued training of personnel will enhance the maintenance recommended standards and best practices in keeping with the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Air Transport Association, and all other regulations.
Vice President Joseph N. Boakai with Fire men and senior members of RIA AND GACI at the closing program on Friday, Photo Credit: Anthony Kessely
The release also quoted Vice President Joseph Boakai, who graced the closing ceremony on a visit to Ghana encouraging the firefighters to make Liberia proud by ensuring a safe environment at the airport.
He praised the RIA management for funding the training and pledged the government’s support in the development of the airport.
Featured image courtesy of Anthony Kessely.
