For the second time in a few months, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has been approached about several derelict buildings that have been identified as far back as 2009, as being fire hazards and threats to life and property, but no definite position has been taken by the M&CC.
In a letter to Town Clerk Carol Sooba in May, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle had said, “that as the statutory body responsible
for the demolition of dangerous buildings in the city that there seems to be little or no response to the submission from the Fire Service of derelict buildings throughout the city.”
The letter went on to say that since 2009, buildings were inspected, photographed and the City Engineer’s Department was informed of the eminent danger and fire hazard that these derelict buildings create throughout the city. Gentle said the Fire Service was again echoing concerns and looking forward to working with the City Council to eliminate these serious and life threatening structures.
A statement from the Fire Advisory Board yesterday said that these buildings were observed to be in a severe state of despair, and hence, deemed not only to be a threat, but also a fire hazard by the Guyana Fire Service. It also said that the board has made several representations directly and through the media to the City Engineer’s Department, of the Mayor and City Council.
The FAB pointed to the correspondence sent in May to the Town Clerk by the Guyana Fire Service asking that the buildings be demolished. The statement also added that the Chairman of the FAB also met the Town Clerk yesterday and that she has since promised some urgent action regarding those structures and that owners and occupants of these buildings are asked to be guided accordingly.
In an invited comment yesterday, Mayor Hamilton Green said that the council has given most of the owners notice and that in some cases they cannot locate the owners while in other instances, the buildings are occupied. He acknowledged that the city is conscious of the problem, but that the city just can’t break down the homes of persons just like that.
Green added that there has been a discussion about the Kitty Market and at a meeting later next week, the council has is prepared to discuss with stall holders if they are interested in sharing the responsibility of the market. It will also discuss with the private sector whether it would want to be part of a joint partnership. The other option is to sell the market, he said, adding that whoever takes it over should maintain the architectural façade of the building.
Sooba, when contacted, said she has had discussions with the Chairman of the Fire Advisory Board on the issues. She said instructions were given to Gentle to have the Kitty Market demolished, but these instructions were always undermined by the Mayor. Sooba added that the issue will be brought up at the next city Works Committee meeting and she would recommend that the buildings be demolished.
On the list of 25 buildings to be demolished by the Guyana Fire Service, are the old Bedford School near to the Bourda Market, as well as buildings in Alberttown, Werk-en-rust, Wortmanville, Robb Street and Wortmanville.
