The Government of Anguilla is happy to report the rapid response of the British Government to the Chief Minister’s impassioned plea for the provision of a fire truck for Anguilla.
The Honourable Chief Minister made this request to the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Baroness Amos, when he and the Minister of Finance attended the Overseas Territories Consultative Council Meeting in London in late September of this year.

The letter from Baroness Amos to the Chief Minister states: “I share your concern about the danger presented by the inadequacy of the service and I am well aware of the financial difficulties in Anguilla at the moment. I am therefore pleased to say that the Overseas Territories Department will consider an application for funding a new fire tender from our Good Government Fund. The application needs to be presented as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide Anguilla with an effective and sustainable fire service.”
Government estimates the value of this new fire tender to be in the range of one million EC Dollars (EC$1,000,000.00). The provision of this new tender will be required to fit into an overall strategy of a new joint fire service which includes airport and domestic operations.
The Chief Minister expressed his sincere thanks to the Governor for the role he played in advancing the process and will be writing to the Baroness herself on behalf of the Government and people of Anguilla for empathising with our concerns and responding so rapidly to our needs.
The Government of Anguilla believes that this kind of support from the British Government is a further indication of their commitment to fulfilling the partnership arrangements. Government must respect this gesture by ensuring that the fire services are maintained at the highest standards so that the equipment and other assets “remain serviceable and effective over the duration of their normal life spans”.
Government expects delivery of the new fire tender in the first quarter of 2003.

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