Comments on: The Absence of Reason

By: Fire Officer

Fire Officer — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 07:23:03 +0000

At our meetings I always try to put some sense in these fellers head. But no, they eh listening to me. They want to run the department like is still the 70?s and 80?s, because when they joined the department that’s how the chiefs use to behave. They want to maintain the same foolish behavior. They fail to realize is human beings they are dealing with,big men and women, not school children. Gov’t sending them on human resource management courses and supervisory skills courses but they coming back more daff than ever. I knew this was coming cuz they fail to realize that the young people of today are not the people of yesterday and will not tolerate that nonsense. Management fail to realize that times have change and people minds are more open. We now live in an age where everyone knows their rights. I tried to convince them that what used to work yesterday cannot work today, but they want to fight fire with fire. They have their “click” whom they give all the acting appointments, overseas courses , etc, and in return the guys report to them everyday to let them know what is going on in the dapartment. They reporters usually go as far as making up stories on other personel to discredit them so as to not be regarded for acting appointments, ect. This kind of crap that is encourage by management in the department. I can go on and on and on but I will stop here for now. One think I can guarantee is that if there is not a drastic change of attitude by management in the Fire…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 14:06:24 +0000

I believe all stories have three sides. this story has the cfo side, the association side, and the truth. i find it very hard to believe that the entire staff of an organisation will have a problem with three men at the top and there is no truth to it. i am a firefighter and i have experienced and saw on many occassions the arrogance of the cfo, dcfo. they behave as if they are three sole shareholders of their private business called the ST. Lucia Fire Service in which they can do whatever they please to appease their egos and agendas. they believe that they are untouchable and they continue to show that with their postings and interviews on the media, smh. what good is a management that has no support from their subordinates. the only way the service can get better is when the cancer that is within is extracted. unless that is done there is no moving forward for this service. putting the cfo on contract is no resolution. think about it, if he is put on contract isnt he still the cfo, nonsensical i think. transferring from one department to the other, we are merely spreading the cancer. i am praying that it doesnt have to take a serious disaster to happen for the authorities that be to realise the seriousness of this brave step that we are taking. we are the ones who face the public on a daily basis and we get all the bad publicity not the cfo. i have been to many countries and just by me mentioning that i am a firefighter i get previleges and respect that i…

By: my man

my man — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 02:20:54 +0000

Talking about procedure chief…five permanent secs had to write asking that you desist from the practice of submitting names of persons for promotion without the due process of advertising those vacancies..were you not being indisciplined and insorbornate?..why were the posts not advertised as procedure requires?..a case of “satan trying to correct Sin” pethaps?..
The comissioner SIR FRANCIS ALEXIS
Q.C could not have discribed you any better!! Wow!

By: Jimboo

Jimboo — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 23:30:41 +0000

“The situation which occurred at the Dennery Fire Station in which the Station Officer there acted in an insubordinate manner to the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, causes one to wonder where the discipline in the Fire Service has gone..”
The entire world saw what happen at Dennery Fire Station the officer asking the DCFO for his pen, is this what the chief is describing as being insubordinate? What i saw was abuse of power. The DCFO had at least four pens in his pocket yet he felt it’s OK to provoke the officer by taking the officer’s pen.
Linking this to all the things that the Chief describe in the above paragraphs, how can one trust what he is saying when people are not privy to what had happen. Can we ever trust him?
“Discipline obviously in shambles despite my efforts” really? lol !!!! just check the inquiry report: http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Commission-of-Inquiry-Report-on-Saint-Lucia-Fire-Service.pdf.

By: Guava Jelly

Guava Jelly — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 20:56:57 +0000

Shame on this guy, does he think that stlucians are stupid? the man thinks he owns the fire department and that he is entitled to live off st lucian tax payers. AS far as I am concerned he should not even be given a contract to continue as Fire cheif, but should be unceremoniously dismissed because of his unprofessional behaviour and corrupt practices.Have’nt St.Lucians read the comission’s report and noted the serious alegations made against this guy, where are we living We should change the name of St.Lucia to Mickey Mouse Land Why did Kenny Anthony allow this thing to fester to this point, does Fontinelle have some kind of hold on The Prime Minister? and why would this government abuse tax-payers to pay for an inquiry,the result of which was submitted over a year ago and not act on that report, and then you guys talking about fiscal defecit we know where the money is being wasted

G.J

By: Disgusted fire officer

Disgusted fire officer — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 20:01:16 +0000

After reading this post my dear CFO, indeed i am ashamed to have had u at the head of an organization that i love and value so much. U ought to be ashamed and hopefully after u read it disgusted with urself. How do u sleep at nights? Blaming hard working individuals for ur incompetence. Thank you very much for allowing the country to see the devil that u are. I hope that the prayers u requested on our behalf can be returned to u by thr nation because u need it alot more than we do. I pity u. Smh. Truly am disgusted.

By: Harsh

Harsh — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 19:35:09 +0000

This CFO is looking for sympathy..who do you think you are fooling?…

By: Long Gone

Long Gone — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 17:29:09 +0000

Uhmm, imagine that!! The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) has responded. Let me take the time off from my busy work schedule this Saturday evening to address what the island top fire man (don’t think, ….. ummm), let’s leave it as CFO; has said.

My son (smart bugger) often draws similarities between the CFO and Anakin Skywalker (Character in Star Wars Films) trust me I was lost!! He made one reference to Episode III, last battle scene on planet Mustafar. At the end of the battle where Anakin (the CFO, he says) was laying helpless and broken, still trying to fight Obi Wan (association), Obi Wan cried out in tears, disgusted and ashamed saying “You were the chosen one, it was said you would destroy the Sith not join them. Bring balance to the force not darkness”. Anakin replies “I hate you” and Obi wan looks at him in tears and says “I was your brother…. “.

Let us all for a moment, forget about two things in the findings of the Commission of Inquiry;
1. The accusation of sexual harassment and
2. The recommendations.
Let us as objective persons put these two aside, and for good reason too! Let us for the moment focus on the content of the inquiry, which for some reason the CFO or DCFO continually evaded media questions on.

The Current Protest

CFO please give evidence and dates as to the letters and correspondence the Fire Service Association (FSA) have received from the Public Service Commission (PSC) related to matters after the inquiry. I would further go on to ask…

By: MKaks

MKaks — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 16:53:43 +0000

Giving you the benefit of the doubt I pop open an ice cold bud light lime and start reading. When I reached the end of the article I am flabbergasted as to why you would write such an article. Being the educated individual that I am I can only conclude that you at the helm of this department has done more harm than good and by your own account you have been a failure as a leader. Arrogance + incompetence = CIAOS. Not everybody with a damm degree is a good leader. Do some soul searching comrade and give it up, not all men were born to lead.

By: MKaks

MKaks — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 16:39:15 +0000

After reading the first two lines of this article no one should read any further. I say so for the simple reason that if you are familiar with the on going situation in the fire service you will know that this article will be anything but objective and only one man’s effort at a chance for redemption. The opening statement is clearly a blatant lie and a direct attempt to mislead the general public but lets for a minute give you the benefit of the doubt, you mean all this going on for years in a dept. you are the head and you are lost? As everyone knows the problems which have triggered these protest actions are not 3 weeks old.

By: Shane Felix

Shane Felix — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 16:37:11 +0000

Fire Service Association Alicia. Not the Fire Service. Just a correctiin there 🙂

By: Stacy Joe

Stacy Joe — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 14:13:14 +0000

As a firefighter, at first read I was outraged at the nerve of this man. Then I thought, what exactly do I expect from this arrogant egotistical person?? Paint a picture of your innocence, hiding behind religion and politics. What else would you do if you were a captain of a hopelessly sinking ship which you singlehandedly steered into the rocks. Your arrogance would lead you to blame your crew. Citing them as incompetent. How does that reflect on you? You captained an incompetent crew for years. What actions did you take during that time to see to it that they were competent? None! You thought your ego would suffice. Now who’s to be blamed? Not your “incompetent crew,” you are! Painting a bad picture of firemen/women does not help you dear CFO and neither does it help your party. It is time that you face the fact that it is indeed you who are an incompetent leader and for change to take effect, you need to be removed at the helm. WE WILL NOT BE SILENT!!!!!

By: Arter

Arter — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 13:17:49 +0000

I listen to the fire chief y in the first place they want to transfer Shane to gros islet when there is so many other fire officers there I think the government should transfer every single member of the management of the fire service and move on especially lambert guy in 2014 these guys should not b at the helm of not even a boys scouts

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 12:21:11 +0000

Smh at that man looking for public support by beating around the bush. He must feel that ppl are ignorant

By: Alicia

Alicia — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 12:11:47 +0000

Correction Shane Felix is the president of the St Lucia fire service and not the secretary a legal entity as agreed upon by the Attorney General