The Pioneers, 30 and Beyond: An Historical Development: Trinidad and Tobago’s First Ever Female Fire Fighters! the Few, the Pro

The book reflects the training and life on the first thirty female fire officers that were selected to undergo training in the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service. The idea for the book first came to me (Leisa Hamilton) in 2004 when I was having a telephone conversation with one of my female batch and best friend, Lisa St. Rose - Folkes (we remained friends since 1992). We were talking about the struggles that we the females face and have gone through each day and are still going through with no proper recognition in the job. Lisa St. Rose - Folkes wish was, if the females can have their own Brigade (Fire Service). I got where she was coming from immediately. I had recently completed, a thesis, though it's not a book, but it led me to cover social research, so I sought to conduct interviews with the remaining batches and some of our male colleagues to gather their views of the females more so the first batch. The book begins with a historical background, the selection, the training and ending with a small biography or profile of each of the females that were interviewed. At this time it was difficult to get the assistance of everyone as we are scattered all over Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere. One may gather that it is difficult for females who are assertive, independent, intelligent, and strong willed to survive in this male dominated field of work. Some may or may not talk about their experiences as there may be fear as one remains in this field and for their prospects for promotions. As to date there are no promoted female officers. Victimization and discrimination remains a crucial factor as there are some Senior Officers who micro manages, and who cannot think and use theirinitiatives as they themselves live and work in fear and contends with doing as he says. As the female officers remain oppressed, we are left without a neutral body to attend to the needs of women. Fire fighting is indeed a stressful job and most women are in their time of child