Volunteers’ plight continues

PANAMA. For two months, volunteer fire-fighters have been denouncing the lack of adequate equipment, which endangers both their lives as well as those of people they are volunteering to protect.

A recent meeting with Ministers could prove to be a step forward in their goal of better support from the government.

Last Friday, their complaints were corroborated by the fire at La Oca Loca store in Calidonia, which was eaten up by flames that took longer than expected to put out.

The lack of equipment was clearly evident, with some firemen entering the burning building without helmets and masks.

TV images showed some fire-fighters leaving the scene affected by the smoke, while others were unable to get close to the building.

The Ministry of Government and Justice had previously delivered 100 sets of protection gears but the volunteer fire-fighters claimed the supply was insufficient.

They demanded a long-term three year program to supply them with proper protection, life insurance, and a training facility. Currently, most firemen learn on the job or through their instructors over the years.

A recent meeting between Dilio Arcia, Minister of Government, Benjamin Colamarco, Minister of Public Works, and four representatives from the Volunteer Firefighters discussed the pressing needs of firemen, particularly the lack of adequate personal safety equipment, firetrucks and life insurance for the volunteers.

“The direct channel of communication between my office and the Fire-Fighters is open,” said Arcia, in light of President Martin Torrijos’ request for the Minister to personally deal with the matter.

Minister Arcia said he would be allocating an emergency fund of at least $3 million to acquire equipment and fire trucks, and to repair existing ones.

The Minister recognized that these measures would not fulfil all the Red Shirts needs at a national level, but that at least they would help expand the current tools to better confront situations like that experiences last Friday in Calidonia.

However, the volunteer fire fighters announced that the general strike would continue, as did the protest march with lighted torches held yesterday from the Ricardo Arango Station to the National Assembly, until the government presented a written commitment to their needs.

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Additional complaints that led to the protest include Minister Arcia’s intervention in Panama’s Fire Department, which they claim impairs firemen from working properly.

Meanwhile, Minister Arcia will be evaluating in the next couple of days the firemen crisis to order different structural changes within the Department, promising another meeting with the Volunteer Firemen Commission.