A Brief History of CACDACFO

The Caribbean Association of Chief, Deputy and Assistant Chief Fire Officers, CACDACFO is a regional organization comprised of Caribbean Fire Service Administrators, Chiefs, and Senior Fire Officers from countries within the Caribbean. Our operation structure and objectives fairly mirrors those of similar groups in the United Stated and the United Kingdom and other developed regions, in seeking to unify and upgrade emergency response potential and techniques.

CACDACFO inauguration ceremony was held on September 17, 2001 at the Trinidad and Tobago Hilton Conference room under the auspices of the Honorable Prime Minister Basdeo Panday.

The Organization primary objective is to prevent and minimize the loss of life, personal injury, damage to property and the environment by improving and promoting the best quality of firefighting, rescue, fire protection and fire prevention. The body also provides expert professional advice, leadership research, informed comments and other services, to CACDACFO member organizations and other entities upon request.

The formation of the Association has it background in more than six years of planning and will promote and maintain, among other things, a coordinated approach and training programs. CACDACFO also provides forums for constrictive discussion, exchange of information and shared experience amongst fire service personnel in the Caribbean Region.

In an effort to promote regional participation and growth, the CACDACFO Constitution allows the president to serve limited terms. Chief Gregory N. Richards of St. Croix, USVI is the current President and the mantle is due to be passed on to the Chief Fire Officer of Anguilla in 2007.

CACDACFO has three (3) standing committees dealing respectively with-: Policy, Codes and Standards; Operations and Communications; Personnel Training, Appliances Equipment and Uniforms.

Chairpersons elected by the body every two years guide the committees. The chairman of each standing committee is as follows:

1. General Policy Codes and Standards Committee – DCFO Andre West - Montserrat

2. Operations and Communications Committee - CFO Anthony Lewis –Tortola, BVI

3. Personnel Training, Appliances, and Uniforms Committee CFO Baldwin Joyce- Antigua

Some key issues addressed at the last General Meeting in St. Croix, USVI were:-

• Implementation of a Caribbean Firefighter of the Year Award. Structure to be developed.
• Reconstituting the CACDACFO Strategic Plan and the Business Plan
• The establishment of regional inventories of equipment and appliances
• Mechanisms for the sharing of information on the performance of various brands of Appliances and Equipment.
• Government to Government arrangements for the Training of Fire Personnel
• Assistance in the separation of Fire Service Division from within the folds of Law Enforcement (Police) organizations that they are attached to presently.
• Establishing a social framework for the integration of the Caribbean Fire Service from the highest level down.
• Development of an Internet web site and other communication tools for CACDACFO members.
• Setting up of a Secretariat Office necessary to be proactive in times of disaster and to improve communication.
• Formalize collaborative relationship with CDERA and CAFF.
• Consideration of NFPA Standards for use throughout the Region.
• The Development of a database of available special technical skills and resources in the region.
• Distribution of the CACDACFO Members Code of Conduct.

The Association is comprised but not limited to representative form the following Fire Service Organizations: