Opposition Leader again calls for reforms to safeguard public buildings of Guyana

Guyana: Recently, there was a fire at the Guyana Police Force’s Office. Luckily, the fire control team rescued significant parts of the building, but unfortunately, Office for Professional Responsibility (OPR) was destroyed due to the massive fire. On this account, the opposition shared some views which was posted on Facebook. Given below statement was shared by APNU Guyana. My fellow Guyanese, it is evident to everyone but the PPP that public buildings of Guyana are at serious risk from fire. Clearly, they cannot smell smoke, nor see flames, nor hear buildings tumble down. How is it that, yet again a vital public building is in flames?! Didn’t the Brickdam Police Station burn down just a short while ago?

The latest bonfire creates the conditions for the destruction of vital information contained in the files at the DPP’s Chambers, including the files related to current high-ranking government officials accused of involvement in corrupt practices related to the award of contracts.

How do we take the PPP seriously when they say they want to prevent fires at our numerous wooden public buildings? How are we to take the PPP regime seriously when they have allowed yet another building to go up in flames? Additionally, Guyana has broken the top ten for crime in the world this year, and it is clear that they have no control of our public security.

After the Brickdam Police Station fire, fellow-citizens called for reforms to safeguard our public buildings. These calls have fallen on deaf ears. We reiterate them now because of how important it is to use them. We must immediately see:

1) Establish a mechanism to examine all the aspects related to fire safety and review the related existing systems, including the building codes. Additionally, there must be an immediate assessment of all the response mechanisms present and a review of the available equipment & the human resource capacity. This investigative mechanism must provide a special and comprehensive report. The findings must be made available for the public scrutiny and immediate remedial action.

2) A review of the Fire Service Act and provide recommendations for modifications on the Parliamentary level. Since Guyana is moving towards a transformation on an environmental basis, new, comprehensive, and creative legislative action must be introduced in the relation to fire prevention and the respective safety of all Guyanese citizens.

Last but perhaps most important, there needs to be a proper investigation into the cause of this fire. The President previously stated he would seek international help investigating the Brickdam Police Station fire, but the remaining building was promptly dismantled. This must not be the case now.

A thorough investigation is vital if we are to prevent further tragedies. These failures to protect the state's assets are enough for the people of Guyana to call for the removal of the PPP regime from office.