The West Coast is celebrating a long-awaited milestone with the official opening of the new Anse La Raye and Canaries Fire Station, a facility leaders say will not only expand emergency response capacity but also strengthen community resilience and youth development.
Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre told residents the new station belongs to the people and not to any political group.
“This fire station is not for any political party. It will remain there. This fire station will serve everybody. When a fire catches, no one will know who is UWP or who is Labour,” the Prime Minister said.
He used the moment to highlight the weight of responsibility carried by firefighters every time they report for duty.
Quoting a firefighter’s prayer, he reminded the public of the risks they face daily. “These are serious words. These are very serious words because these people are saying to you, when they go out, they might not come back,” he explained.
“When we try to improve the conditions, when we try to give them a better place to work from, when we try to give them more equipment, when we try to give them more vehicles, when we try in spite of everything to give them better conditions of service, you cannot play politics with.”
Parliamentary Representative for Anse La Raye and Canaries, Wayne Girard, said the new station brings long overdue and life saving support to the constituency.
“This is not a ceremony for show. This is not a ribbon-cutting for legs and chairs. This is real service, finally delivered to real people who have waited too long,” he said.
Girard sharply criticised claims circulated on social media by the opposition candidate.
“He has taken to social media to spread a wicked piece of misinformation, claiming there is no fire truck, no ambulance and no fire station. He calls this opening a sham. The only sham is him and the only disgrace is his behavior,” Girard stated.
He added that any politician who refused to provide essential services when given the opportunity and now seeks to mislead voters “is not fit to represent this constituency ever again.”
Chief Fire Officer Ditney Downes described the opening as a transformative moment for the West Coast.
“Today’s opening of the West Coast Fire Station directly addresses these long-standing challenges. It represents modern brick and mortar. It is a symbol of the government’s commitment to public safety, community resilience and equitable development,” he said.
Downes emphasised that the new station is a community asset and called for partnership and vigilance.
“To the men and women of the Saint Lucia Fire Service who will be stationed here, you carry the trust of this community. Uphold it with courage, professionalism and compassion,” he said.
“To the residents of Anse La Raye and Canaries, this is your station. We are here for you. We invite you to partner with us through vigilance, cooperation and respect for safety protocols.”
The opening also coincided with the launch of the Fire Service’s first mentorship program for vulnerable youth, adding to the project’s wider impact on community development.