President Michel honours Diguois by his presence

The La Digue community had been waiting for it for a long time and it has finally become reality. The island has got its first ever fire station! 

Situated at La Passe behind the island’s police station, the La Digue Fire Station was officially opened yesterday afternoon by the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joël Morgan, in the presence of President James Michel.
Other guests included the chairperson of the La  Digue Trust Fund Lise Bastienne, members of the National Assembly for La Digue and Grand Anse Praslin respectively Chantal Ghislain and Marc Volcère, chief fire officer André Morel, fire officers and other guests.
In his speech, Minister Morgan stated that the station’s opening replies to the government’s commitment to protect human lives as well as the environment. 

He said that the investment towards the people of La Digue was necessary as proved by flooding of January of this year which called for a first intervention from the fire fighters who were already on the island.

Minister Morgan commented that this also shows the importance of the officers manning the service and intervening to save lives. 

He took the opportunity to thank them and called on them to continue the good work according to the standard expected of them.

The minister concluded by calling on the people of La Digue for their continued support and collaboration to ensure that lives and property on the island are preserved.

On his part, chief fire officer Morel described the opening as another important step in the history of La Digue and of fire fighting in Seychelles.
 
He said that now gone are the days when nothing could be done in case of fire and natural disasters on La Digue and the islanders’ security will very much improve.

“The security of a nation goes with its development,” Mr Morel remarked.

He called upon his men to be equal to their task by going according to the motto of the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA): “Desire to serve, courage to act”.

“You are never off duty. You are always on duty and must always be prepared to intervene,” he told them.

Mr Morel also invited youths, especially those of La Digue, to seize the opportunity and take a career in fire fighting. 

Remembering September 4, 2010 when a young lady lost her life while two houses were destroyed by fire at La Passe, MNA Ghislain has on behalf of the La Digue community thanked everyone who has contributed in the construction of the station. 
She has however called for an improvement in other emergency services on the island, such as those of the Logan Hospital, and the necessity of having a blood bank available.

At a cost of more than R9 million, the realisation of the La Digue Fire Station has come after the SFRSA in its quest to bring its service to the community, identified the project as a priority and included it in its 2012-2016 strategic plan. It is currently equipped with one fire engine and manned by 14 officers led by substation officer Antoine Souris. Its capacity will be improved to two vehicles and 21 men by the end of the year.
The SFRSA has announced the construction of substations at Anse Royale and Ile Perseverance as its next projects. Works on one for Praslin has already started.

The accompanying photographs of the official opening ceremony were taken by our photographer Joena Bonnelame.