Firemen will take part in the parades

The National Institution Civic Committee which is made up of fficers and firemen from the different fire stations, will take part although it has serious disagreements with the government over pay and working conditions.

For the last five years the Fire Brigade has been asking the government for new equipment, because the what they have at the moment is old and defective.

The Civic Committee has several conversations with the then Minister of Government and Justice, Daniel Delgado Diamante, but no agreement has been reached.

The image of the Fire Brigade has been tarnished recently over allegations of corruption and high officials stealing money, which was allocated to buy fire equipment and other vehicles, according to members of the committee.

The incidents were investigated by the National Police, which only found minor administrative problems. But those who opposed a Ministry of Government and Justice resolution that allowed the intervention of the government wremoved from their posts on the grounds of corruption.

In a press release the Civic Committee said that the fact that they are participating in the parade did not mean that they are giving up to their rights or stopping their struggle. As Daniel Delgado Diamante has been temporarily removed from his role as Minister of Government and Justice, there is no reason for the Red Shirts, the firemen’s nickname, not to participate in the parade.

The resolution that has angered the firemen treats the brigade as a security service, instead as a public and humanitarian service, as well as violating the laws regarding the operation of the Fire Brigade as a whole.

A spokesman for the firemen said that they want to serve the public, but is is very difficult to give a good and efficient service when they are working with obsolete equipment that would not be enough in case of a big fire or other type of catastrophe.

He added that they will continue fighting to the end.