HGP Nightly News – Prime Minister Mark Phillips on Wednesday signalled a major shift in Guyana’s emergency response strategy, declaring that the days of relying on a heavily centralised fire service are drawing to a close as Government moves to build a more modern, decentralised system across the country.
Speaking at the Guyana Fire Service Officers’ Conference 2026 at the Guyana Police Force Annex, Eve Leary, Phillips said the Government is advancing a new approach to firefighting aimed at strengthening national emergency response and improving service delivery in communities nationwide.
He made it clear that the role of firefighters can no longer be confined to battling blazes alone, arguing that the realities of modern emergencies demand a broader and more flexible response.
“We are no longer living in an era where we can afford to look at a fire on a house and ignore the car crash down the street,” the Prime Minister said.
According to Phillips, today’s fire service must be equipped and prepared to act as the front line in a wide range of emergencies, from traffic collisions and floods to wildfires and hazardous material incidents.
He said modern firefighting organisations are now expected to be “the first line of defence for all emergencies,” underscoring the need for a system that is faster, wider in reach, and better suited to the demands of a developing country.
In a major statement on the future of emergency services in Guyana, Phillips said firefighting must also be decentralised, stressing that the old model can no longer effectively serve the country’s growing and changing needs.
“The era of the centralised fire service is coming to an end,” he declared.
The Prime Minister explained that Government is moving toward a hybrid model that combines the trained Guyana Fire Service with decentralised, community-based units. He said this structure is intended to deliver stronger coverage in both coastal communities and hinterland regions, where distance and access can delay response times.
As part of that push, Phillips announced that every Neighbourhood Democratic Council is expected to have its own fire tender, a move aimed at ensuring quicker responses when fires break out.
With more than $3.5 billion invested in the fire service over the past five years, the Prime Minister said the Government’s agenda goes beyond simply acquiring equipment. According to Phillips, the investment is about building capacity, strengthening systems, and creating a modern framework that can carry firefighting in Guyana into a new era.
“The era of scarcity is over. The era of strategic investment has begun,” he said.
He added that the spending reflects the Government’s commitment to firefighters and forms part of a wider effort to modernise the fire service in step with Guyana’s expanding economy and rising development demands. Phillips said the Officers’ Conference is a critical forum for reflection and planning, as Government continues putting structures in place to ensure the fire service can meet the pressures of a fast-developing nation.
