Yuh a di real man - Crowd supports fireman who protested atop transport centre

Some of the bystanders who earlier criticised Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) sergeant Leo Bennett for his almost six-hour protest on top of the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre praised and cheered him on yesterday as he descended and did a few sit-ups.

"Yuh a di real man. You is a strong black man and yuh should be a national hero," said a woman who hours before had labelled Bennett an 'idiot'.

Bennett, who has been suspended since last May for a similar incident, climbed to the peak of the transport centre to advocate for his rights and those of his colleagues. Speaking after descending, he said he is merely asking the relevant authorities for a better work system for firefighters, in which they can have a better work-life balance that would translate into better service. He noted that firemen get only one suit of gear.

"Let's say we go to a fire at Kintyre dumps, illegal dumps, and when we have like asbestos materials a burn ... when that get on the one gear, there is no facility in Half-Way Tree Fire Station or anywhere else to clean that. We must then take that gear and yuh see the thickness of the gear, so when you work every day how will you get that dry? Is not like we live next door to the station. When we take it home, should we pack it into the same machine and expose my four-year-old son and wife to cancer?" he added.

Bennett said he also protested on behalf of six colleagues who were last year suspended for voicing their concerns. Bennett is expected to attend a suspension trial today for his previous protest in the vicinity of the JFB headquarters in Kingston. In addition to his concerns about gear, Bennett said there are no working fire hydrants along Hagley Park Road.

Along Constant Spring Road there are three call centres and not one hydrant in close proximity. "So if, God forbid, we get a fire call for the call centre, your sister will perish," Bennett said.

The crowd cheered his comments as they gathered around him to commend him for his bravery and stance. Bennett, who said he has been serving the JFB for 19 years, also questioned the efficiency of the ambulance service.

"The last taxi lady we picked up said she couldn't feel anything below har neck. So you know that is a spinal cord injury, do you deserve an ambulance to take you to the hospital as members of the public," Bennett said. When asked about his mental health and that of his colleagues, Bennett said he often has to find other means such as farming to alleviate the stress.

"Every fireman is either dem drink, smoke or be a gyalis. Some a dem a mad out and a take all kinda pill because watch ya, Jamaica is a violent place and when we go to the inner-city places, is either a firebombing or shot up. Imagine looking at a child body burn down to the size of a chicken. So what you think happen in our heads? When you go to the accident scenes you don't know s**t different from brains. They don't even have a gym where we can go burn some stress," he said.

While atop the transport centre, Bennett held a Jamaica flag and kept hydrated by drinking bottled water and consuming other refreshments. At one point, Bennett lay on his back for a few minutes before getting up to remove his shirt to lay down again. He then turned to face Eastwood Park Road. Despite all this, it was business as usual in the centre until shortly before 11 a.m., when a fire truck showed up. Psychiatrist Senator Dr Saphire Longmore and senior members of the JFB intervened, and after a few minutes Bennett came down independently.