Each year, we receive these usual seasonal pronouncements from the Head of Fire targeting private homes and the commercial sector, warning against the usual tensions of Christmas time as the extra use of power against the background of what has been, since years, is decidedly unreliable electricity. supply regime, (and a failure over the terms of office of several political administrations) to repair the deficiencies they find in a Guyana Power and Light Company that is in an ongoing crisis (GPL). For the Fire Chief’s seasonal encouragement, more or less, exercises in going through the motions since his Christmas wishes were realized, he will continue to exist in the world of pipe dreams unless these are supported by practical steps to repair ‘ The basic problems … and here we must add that some of these are not the responsibility of the Head of Fire.
However, we have a whole right to raise some of the burning issues with him. We believe, for example, that we should express to the Head of Fire how open and frequent we are to be honest. We believe that the public lobby for a better security regime would generally be enhanced by periodic and especially public notices about how safe we are in terms of fires, what specific vulnerabilities exist, the extent of the emergency attend those. weaknesses and only what it will take, in terms of resources and time frame, to repair.
Contextually, our thoughts run inevitably into the uniqueness of our capital city, Georgetown, to fires, destructive ones, against the backdrop of what, over the years, have been the tragic and shocking attempts to put them right . Here, one must be honest in pointing out that the breaches of standards in relation to the soundness of electrical installations in business premises have not been addressed anywhere near the level of robustness required by City Hall , the Fire Department, or over the years. central government. In fact, this particular issue has become a matter of national disgrace.
When considering the proximity of business houses to one another on Regent Street, it challenges the belief that more robust action in matters relating to electricity protocols (including the closure of non-compliant businesses) has not been the order since a long time. of the day when the faulty electrical installation of one business house may well lead to leveling much of the city’s commercial center.
But that’s not all. Fire Service employees have spoken openly about the vulnerabilities prevailing in downtown Georgetown in accessing water supplies, and all too often concerns are expressed in tone tones about Fire Service inventory deficiencies.
Oddly enough, the repetitive rituals attached to our Fire Service regimes, including days set aside to shine a spotlight on the work of the Service, do not seem to be happening to either the Fire Service, the borough or central government , is tantamount to wearing absurd windows unless we remain as close as we can to properly protect ourselves from the everyday disasters that threaten us. The truth is, in a society where national firefighting and firefighting regimes should be major issues of national security, we have long fallen to a level where our weaknesses have become significant enough to cause not to be able to rely on sensitive state and urban organizations, efficient electricity and water supply systems, and a properly resourced Guyana Fire Service, but on a ‘proverbial and prayer wing’.
So while the Fire Chief’s seasonal calls to consumers for a responsible electricity management regime during the Christmas holidays in circumstances where an increasing number of business houses continue to roam the commercial center almost daily, it has become a runaway the post mill, what he has to say is likely to be taken seriously if, over the rest of the year, we can have enough measures to build confidence on the part of the above state and municipal authorities to try and be able to better to prevent and fight fires. Otherwise, our Fire Chief will continue to find himself whistling in the wind.