Dear Editor,
A fire on Robb Street this past week has really brought home a number of many important and dangerous issues which need to be addressed immediately by the authorities.
I have operated a business in Regent Street for the past fifteen years, and I could recall that there were three frightening major fires within the last few years in the area between Camp and Alexander Streets at locations occupied by Chinese businesses, with all of them being in relatively close proximity to each other: the former Kissoon facility at Camp and Robb Streets, the Chinese store on Regent Street where four or five buildings were destroyed, and now the four-story building on Robb Street.
One would wonder if the relevant authorities make periodic inspections at these business places to ensure that fire prevention rules, electrical regulations, business licences and other required compliance issues are in order, since the overwhelming public perception is that many of the business owners try to do their own thing regardless of what the law specifies.
Fires are terrifying for residents and businesses, where the loss of property, businesses and lives are always of major concern, and citizens must voice those concerns to get authorities to take remedial actions.
The Guyana Fire Service seems to be in need of an overhaul, which must include training and testing for rapid deployment and suppression of fires. These required skills are very much lacking and those shortcomings were demonstrated at the last three fires mentioned. When the fire occurred on Regent Street, there was mass confusion, with the Fire Service workers unaware of where fire hydrants were located, and they were running around in Robb Street when the fire was in Regent Street. The fire at Robb and Camp Streets also saw the same confused approach by the Fire Service workers who had to be told by the many onlookers where to point the water. The fire last week at the four story building on Robb Street saw the main fire truck with the mechanical ladder arriving very late, and it took a very long time for them to figure out how to fight the fire with a very laboured and slow response. It is obvious that they are not adept at their job or in the use of their resources, which could have limited the damage to the building and the contents.
To compound their poor organization and lack of attention to detail, they left the location prematurely and had to return when smoke started to billow again from the fourth floor shortly after their departure.
However, some of the Fire Officers performed valiantly and one whose name was mentioned was Station Officer Harry, who made his way up the fire escape and entered the building to try to suppress the fire. There were many other officers who performed well and should be given credit.
Many more fires will occur in Georgetown, especially in the commercial district due to a lack of inspections and enforcement of the laws. While one is mindful of the right of all citizens to make a living, you cannot stay silent if the activities of a business have the potential to cause massive destruction to property and loss of lives, especially with the close proximity of buildings in the commercial district which has both residents and businesses occupying those buildings.
As a business owner with friends who have suffered losses due to fire, I feel that the authorities are not doing their jobs to prevent fires.
A case in point is a busy welding shop located under an old dilapidated and unpainted wooden house, behind an old and unpainted wooden building in Robb Street, a few doors from the last fire. The welding shop uses welding torches with open flames and other tools that generate sparks. I was in the Chinese restaurant one day and noticed massive equipment arriving at that small wooden house with the welding shop and right away remembered the Regent Street fire. There are many other welding shops, cook shops, mechanic shops and other such businesses that use open flames which are not licensed for those activities, nor were they ever inspected by the Fire Service or other government agencies. Why should others have to suffer because of these illegal businesses and the failure of the Fire Service and other government officers to inspect them?
Where any business operation, legal or illegal, has the potential to cause destruction to property and lives, it must be regulated as permissible by law or shut down forthwith if they are not in compliance with the law and pose a threat to the community. The seat-warmers at the Fire Service and other government offices need to walk around the city and locate all such businesses and ensure they are complying with the laws before we have another spreading fire in the city.
With so many high-rise buildings in the city today, the authorities should plan for emergencies, especially in the event of a fire. Many of the streets in Georgetown have GPL and Gtt overhead wires crossing the streets which could prevent the fire tenders from extending their ladders to fight fires. Fire hydrants should be installed in more areas and tested frequently. The Fire Service and the police should have coordinated training activities to deal with high-rise building emergencies. Tow trucks should be on hand to tow away any vehicles blocking the deployment of the fire trucks.
Looting during fires is a despicable act, and all perpetrators should be dealt with in a condign manner to set an example to others. The massive looting at the Robb and Camp Streets fire which went on for days, will go down as one of the most heinous and lawless acts witnessed by citizens and tourists alike.
The Guyana Police Force should be commended for their control of the area around the Robb Street fire which prevented a repeat of the mass looting that occurred at the Regent and Camp Streets fire. It was a welcome sight to see police reinforcements arrive, but while the situation was already under control on the street, more work still needs to be done in crime prevention at building fires. Even though so many police were on hand, there were a number of ‘helpers’ in the building during the fire helping themselves, and this was not detected by members of the Fire Service or the police. They were seen by neighbours at the back of the building throwing out merchandise into the alleyway.
While citizens should be thankful for the services offered by the Fire Service and the Police Force, we know that they can do a much better job with more training and practice of their skills.
I am hoping that the authorities will take immediate action to inspect all businesses to ensure they are in compliance with fire and other regulations.
Yours faithfully,
Clayton R Harris
