The Minister of Government and President of the Board of Trustees of the Meritorious Fire Department of the Republic of Panama (BCBRP), Roger Tejada, confirmed that the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) has already been acquired for all operational firefighters in the country and that, as part of this process, the American company in charge of making it will arrive in Panama this week.
According to the Minister, the visit of the North American company has the objective of taking the measures in all the stations of the country to proceed with the preparation of the PPE, which are totally personalized.
Minister Tejada’s announcement was made during the protocol act to celebrate the 126th anniversary of the Colon Regional Zone, held at the Luis Ducruet Station, which was also presided over by Col. Ernesto De León Echevers, general director in charge of the BCBRP.
Likewise, Minister Tejada announced the purchase and recomposition of the firefighting vehicles, with the ambulance purchase process, and last Friday the go-ahead was received by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) to honor the promotions agreed and committed by President Laurentino Cortizo.
For his part, Col. De León made a historical tour of the role played for 126 years by the firefighters of Colón, not only at the service of the province, but of the country.
“On a day like today, we must remember that this institution, to reach the position it has reached, has been driven by men and women who did not hesitate to offer their lives, to save the lives and property of others. From Captain Charles Terner of Reuter, in 1917, to Major Dimas Sanabria, in 2007, the Colón firefighters have offered the lives of seven of his best men on the altar of service to the Homeland”, he pointed out.
During the protocol act, some twenty decorations were awarded, among them the Gold medals, the Gold Cross medal, to members of the institution in recognition of their services and contributions.
The Colon Regional Zone was founded on July 20, 1897 and the headquarters of the Regional Zone, its current name, carried out a series of activities to celebrate its 126th anniversary. Also participating in the protocol ceremony were the Minister and Vice Minister of Housing and Territorial Planning, Rogelio Paredes and José Batista, respectively; the Col. Matilde Torres, Deputy Director General and Lt. Col. Carlos Barker, first chief of the Colon Regional Zone.
Among the special guests were the director of the Institute of National Aqueducts and Sewers (IDAAN), Juan Antonio Ducruet; the manager of the Colon Free Zone, Giovanni Ferrari; the president of the Colón Chamber of Commerce, Michael Chen; the commanders of Regional Zones and national directors of the institution.
