Pay for volunteer fire fighters uncertain

KENNETH KOBEDI
Correspondent | Tuesday November 4, 2008 00:00

Kgosing Ward councillor, Galaletsang Mhapa has called on the department of forestry and range resources to consider the idea of compensating volunteers 'because they are doing a tremendous job'.

He said their role should be recognised because otherwise they are left demoralised and they will drag their feet when there are disasters in the absence of daily upkeep.

If volunteers are not paid, he argued, then even officials on the ground should get their night out allowances suspended as they have basic salaries. He said there is also 'a rumour doing rounds' that veterinary officials in the field at the affected areas are working at a very slow pace, adding that 'they are also said have painted the whole contingent black, because now volunteers are said to be following and abiding by whatever officials have to say. I strongly oppose this and feel it is quite misleading and should be discouraged'.

Boseja councillor, Isaac Phoi, opposed this saying they shouldn't, as community leaders, advocate for volunteers and push government into paying for their services.

He said although their assistance is commendable, offering allowances might, in the long run, cause havoc because some people might cause fires in order to seek.

He said all this costs government lots of money and it delays implementation of government policies.

Shorobe councillor, Gaditshwane Mmutle said government departments always worked on principles and procedures that they follow and that people cannot be expected to work on huge projects without team leaders or supervisors who will be held accountable, should any complaints arise, unless they too are involved.

Forestry and Range Resources District Coordinator, James Ellard, told council that government employees are obliged to carry out duties for which they are paid.

'It is difficult to say when they go to put out veldt fires they should not be paid. Volunteers assist in any disaster and as we speak, the department is working on a Fire National Policy Strategy that has a provision to cater for any volunteers suppressing the veldt fires as there is also a possibility that they might encounter injuries while in the line of duty,' he said.

He said the department is working on the re-alignment of the firebreaks countrywide.

He said a proposal has been made that when the cost of re-alignment turns out to be huge, the existing firebreaks will be tackled by creating blocks so that fires are contained in such blocks.

He said research has shown that the type of vegetation and the wind speed, especially in the Ngamiland area, determines the width of the firebreaks.