fire stations have a bigger workload as they have to fill in for them. Another problem is that the Fire Department Suriname (KBS) faces a shortage of manpower. Union Chairman Joel Panka warns that the problems could be forgotten as soon as the situation is somewhat back to normal. He told Times of Suriname that several fire stations in all parts of the country are paralyzed because their fire trucks broke down. This means that the nearest fire stations have to cover additional precincts besides the one that they are assigned to. According to the union chairman, the current situation puts more workload on the firefighters. The heavy workload comes at a time when the Fire Department Suriname is faced with a shortage of manpower.

Panka fears that all of the problems will be forgotten when the most urgent ones are solved. He explained that the fire department urgently needs new equipment and gear. Meanwhile the purchase of new fire trucks is still a hot topic. Justice and Safety Minister Harish Monorath was busy addressing the issue but Panka claimed that the issue popped up a long time ago. “The availability of fire trucks remains an important issue. As long as the stations do not have their own fire trucks, the other stations will have to cover additional precincts which also means that the firefighters will have to work harder and sometimes will not even get the opportunity to catch their breath especially given the growing number of grass fires that are reported every day.