In an effort to reinforce training, networking, sharing information and addressing the injustices affecting fire fighters, more specifically those in the United States, the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) hosted its convention here in The Bahamas at the Melia Cable Beach Resort.

The Bahama Journal met with the association’s President James Hill who blamed the United States’ city government and fire services on the low numbers of African American firefighters.

The numbers once pegged at 18 per cent has significantly declined to only eight per cent.

“The testing system in some cities is unfair, the disciplinary are more prevalent to African American firefighters than it is to their counterparts as well as some political aspects,” he said.

“Some of the things we have addressed is the inequality in promotional systems throughout the fire services, the fact that African Americans aren’t being hired in the fire services, our numbers have reduced considerably.”

Mr. Hill said he welcomes The Bahamas to become a member of its international association.

This has been a fantastic experience for us, it’s been a learning experience for both the US fire services and Bahamian fire service members, we hope to continue the relationship that we developed,” he said.

“We have a region here in the Caribbean and The Bahamas is one that we would like to bring online as part of our international outreach.”

Some 3,700 firefighters are members of the association, the convention ends on Friday.