…though clean-up of site okayed
Fire Chief (ag) Marlon Gentle yesterday declined to comment on the investigations into the blaze that devastated the Ministry of Health on Friday last even as questions persist about the extent of the fire service probe.
The Fire Chief who had been unavailable for comment since the blaze despite numerous efforts by this newspaper spoke through his secretary saying that he had “no comment”.
Deputy Fire Chief Winston McGregor had indicated on Monday that as far as he was aware investigations were continuing, but he had pointed out that no daily brief on the fire had reached him at that time.
From all indications the fire service has wrapped up investigations on the ground since according to Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy his ministry has been cleared to proceed with the clean-up, and a fair proportion of the debris at the site has already been removed.
“We got permission from the fire service and the police to go ahead and clean up,” Ramsammy told Stabroek News yesterday.
Ramsammy was unable to say specifically what external help has been offered to the government in the fire probe, but Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon told reporters yesterday that the US Southern Command has offered to provide fire-fighting investigative skills to the administration to further investigate the fire.
However, Ramsammy disclosed that he has received calls from persons offering assistance and that he is weighing the options.
“There are people with experience in many international settings where buildings have been destroyed because of terrorism, people who have developed some expertise in this area. This kind of help has been offered to us at the ministry,” Ramsammy said.
Ramsammy also had no information on the status of the police investigation. He said that developments in the probe are not forwarded to him directly, adding that he only read of the reported detention and beating of a man in connection with the fire when the story went public.
Luncheon addressed the reports surrounding the man, Troy Small, who has alleged that he was tortured at the hands of a group including one uniformed rank of the Guyana Defence Force. He revealed yesterday at his post-Cabinet press briefing that the matter was raised at an emergency meeting while noting that the police have denied any involvement in the beating.
“We were assured that a report will be provided as to the allegations and findings. I await the results of the report,” Luncheon said.
The Cabinet Secretary said too that the final investigative report from the police is incomplete, adding that there is no guarantee from the police as to when the report would be available. He said also that the administration is not in the habit of forcing the police to agree to any timeframe.
Further, Luncheon said that Cabinet has noted the ministry’s losses to arson. Since the blaze Cabinet has received reports about its impact and also reports on the contingency plans put in place.
Suffering
City resident Troy Small has alleged that he was questioned about the ministry fire and tortured by a group of men including one uniformed GDF rank early Monday morning, and was later deposited at the Alberttown Police Station.
Relatives of Small said yesterday that he is in poor health and “suffering a lot” but is afraid to be admitted to the public hospital. Small, who maintains that he has no knowledge of the attack on the ministry, opted to speak through an aunt when contacted by Stabroek News yesterday.
The fearful aunt related that the increased public attention in the matter has the family unsettled because “we don’t know who do this to he and whether they will come back”.
She said that Small was at home in tremendous pain but was against going to the public hospital where he was treated on Wednesday and later whisked away by the police. He was later released.
Asked about his condition she said that Small’s legs have been broken and he is suffering from chest pains.
According to the aunt, he is unable to do anything for himself and that they are assisting him at home. She said that he is desirous of going to a private hospital but is still unsure “at this time”.
Small’s story is that he was picked up by the group while in the company of a friend and taken to Le Repentir Cemetery where he was beaten mercilessly. He related that the men had guns and that they had even threatened to shoot him after he failed to answer questions about the fire.
His aunt would not elaborate on the story except to say that her nephew fears for his life now and that the family also feels at risk.
