Shadow Minister of Agri-culture with Responsibility for Region #5, MP Viceroy Jordan yesterday said that the government must take responsibility for the destruction by fire at the West Berbice business centre at Bush Lot Village on Monday.
In a statement, he said that the blame must not be shifted to the firemen and women.
“It is clear to every citizen that the Guyana Fire Service lacks the capacity to engage in efficient and effective firefighting simply because of its poor equipment and lack of maintenance. Blame must be placed squarely at the feet of the PPP government since they have failed to equip the Fire Service properly. This was revealed before, when the very Fire Service could not save the burning Brickdam Police Station that was destroyed by fire even though several fire Tenders were in close proximity”, Jordan said.
He added: “This incompetent, irresponsible, and uncaring Government must never be allowed to cast the blame for its mismanagement and lack of vision and planning that resulted in the devastation which occurred and has adversely affected our community and the people on our hard-working firemen and women.
He said that the Guyana Fire Service management must state publicly that for almost a year the Onverwagt Fire Station was furnished with a defective truck and one that was almost ready to be thrown into the dumpsite. He said that the latter was for some reason removed and the defective one (suspected transmission issues) was left in the said state. He said that at present the entire Mahaica/Berbice Region #5 is serviced by one Fire Tender that is visible at the Onverwagt Fire Station.
“We must not allow a government to brow beat us when they failed to provide all the necessary resources that are needed to effectively fight fire in Guyana’s ever-expanding residential and business communities and come to the point of accusing fire fighters of `acting unprofessionally during a major firefighting operation’ as was stated by the Guyana Fire Service management”.
Jordan asked the Fire Chief for to investigate the following:
1. The mechanical, hydraulic, and other state of the Fire Truck at Onverwagt W.C.B.
2. Why has the next unit (fire truck) not been returned, or has a new one been placed at the location?
3. Who installed the fire hydrants and what is the standard design or layout of hydrants for easy access?
4. Why were the hoses filled with holes at several points and leaking in large magnitude thus causing a breakdown in the pressure released at the point of contact with the fire?
5. Provide to the nation the last inspection checklist and maintenance schedule for all Fire Tenders (hose and fittings on units), fire hydrants, safety tools, and Ladders and recommendation reports for damaged or defective components across the country.
He also urged the government to say how many off-duty firemen were called out or voluntarily showed up for work to dedicate their efforts to saving lives and valued properties.
“I stood there that night and watched our men and women both in Fire Fighting and Policing as they professionally dedicated their energies and efforts to ensure that safety, security, and stability were achieved. It is therefore disingenuous of the Guyana Fire Service management to say that `An investigation into the matter has been launched, and once completed, defaulters will be sanctioned accordingly’. Then sanction the government since they are the defaulters”, he said.
