On Monday morning, the Minister of Justice, Integration, Public Transport and Energy, Mr. Arthur Dowers, participated in a ceremony at the Aruba Fire Department headquarters in Tanki Flip.
During the ceremony, Jacobo Winterdal, Sales Supervisor at Garage Cordia Aruba, officially handed over the keys to a new van to Minister Dowers. The minister then presented the keys to Jair Tromp, Commander of the Aruba Fire Department.
The new vehicle is a Toyota Hiace Commuter, which will strengthen the operational capacity of the Aruba Fire Department and fulfill an important need in its daily operations.
In addition to the vehicle handover, certificates were presented to several firefighters who successfully completed the training program to operate the department’s ladder truck. The course concluded with both practical and theoretical examinations. According to Commander Tromp, the Aruba Fire Department now has a group of 40 certified firefighters qualified to operate this modern and highly sophisticated vehicle.
Minister Dowers expressed his satisfaction with the continued investment in firefighter training. He noted that as the Fire Department continues modernizing its fleet with state-of-the-art vehicles and equipment, it is equally important that personnel receive the knowledge and training necessary to operate them safely and efficiently.
He added that this expertise is essential not only to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations and other emergency responses but also to ensure responsible use of the equipment and prevent unnecessary damage resulting from insufficient training.
With the addition of the new vehicle and the certification of these firefighters, the Aruba Fire Department continues to strengthen its operational readiness and its ability to provide fast, safe, and professional service to the community.
