Persons Urged to Desist from Making Prank Calls to Emergency Service Providers

Jamaicans are being urged to desist from making prank calls to emergency service providers.

This urging comes from Commissioner, Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), Stewart Beckford, who reports that the JFB responded to several calls, a number of which turned out to be false, following the 5.6 magnitude earthquake which impacted the island on Monday (October 30).

He said the Brigade mainly received prank calls from the Corporate Area in the earthquake’s aftermath.

“We would [for example] have [received] reports of [a] building [that] collapsed on Half-Way Tree Road, and when we turned up, it was false, and numerous other calls around the Corporate Area that turned out to be pranks,” the Commissioner indicated.

“I want to use this medium to ask members of the public, [to] please desist from the practice of making false calls. What it does is tie up the resources that are needed elsewhere, and so it makes our job that much more difficult,” Mr. Beckford added.

He was speaking during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday (October 30).

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said the practice has a real impact in that it misdirects resources that could have been used to properly identify, assess and provide services to people who are in need.

“Some people may think it’s funny, it’s a prank. Some people may think it’s entertainment. But it has a real impact on how it misdirects our resources – resources that could have been used to properly identify and properly assess and give service to people who are in need, [which] end up being misdirected because we can’t take a chance. Once someone calls for help, we have to respond,” he said.

Following the earthquake, several images falsely depicting damage to critical infrastructure were posted on social media.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Beckford said the JFB has been conducting assessments of buildings to ascertain the extent of damage, if any, that may have occurred.

He indicated that the Brigade received calls reporting collapsed structures on Church Street in Kingston and in Ramble, St Thomas.

“We still have teams of firefighters out in the field making assessments of schools and other government institutions and, of course, we would have had some calls from the private sector,” the Commissioner informed.

He advised that the JFB is collaborating with other State entities, such as the municipal corporations, to assess the damage and determine the repairs needed.