Fire brigade chief Beckford accepts national honour with humility

Stewart Beckford mounted the dais alone at King’s House on Monday to be vested with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander (CD). But the long-serving firefighter was quick to point out that credit for the national honour must go to his team and his family.

“What has happened here today could not have happened without the help of some tremendous folks who have served with me, some as long as 36 years,” Beckford, the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) commissioner, told the Jamaica Observer shortly after accepting the award.

“The gentleman standing here beside me, Superintendent Lyon, he joined in 1990 like myself and he has been a tremendous support, along with our senior officers,” added Beckford, flanked by happy family and colleagues.