Fire Service Bill amended

Nov 27, 2009 News

– Tougher penalties for false alarmists, persons who seek to direct and/or assist fire fighters

By Fareeza Haniff
The Fire Service (Amendment) Bill was passed in the National Assembly last evening, without the attendance of opposition members once again.
This legislation enhances the fines and penalties that are contingent on violations of the Fire Service Act. Tabled and presented by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, the new legislation now increases the penalty from $300 and three months imprisonment to a fine of $100,000 and six months imprisonment for persons who seek to direct and/or assist fire fighters in their line of duty.
According to Minister Rohee, on many occasions when firefighters are on the scene, persons out of the act of ‘goodwill’ would run to the assistance of the fire fighters, while at the same time some of them would be heard directing the firemen where to position the hose.
However, some of these very persons, Rohee said, are caught scuffling with the firemen from time to time. “Such actions Mr. Speaker do not augur well for the effective and efficient firefighting at the given point in time. But it’s a professional job, people are sent abroad to be trained and there are certain techniques which you have to be aware of and there are certain standard operating procedures.”
The Home Affairs Minister added that persons found guilty of interfering with members of the fire service when they are conducting their duties will be dealt with according to the new legislation.
Additionally, the Bill also increases the penalties for persons who place calls which turn out to be false alarms, from a $400 fine and six months imprisonment to a fine of $100,000 and a period of no less than six months imprisonment.
For a second conviction, the fine would be $150,000 and imprisonment for two years.
“The Fire Service finds itself responding to a call that there is a fire only to find on arrival at a particular point in time that it’s a false alarm. We have to send a strong signal for persons who engage in this type of activity. Unless we send this strong signal in the society, people will continue to engage in these unsavory and dangerous activities,” Minister Rohee said.
He told the National Assembly that out of a total of 1,441 telephone calls made to the Fire Service, 179 were false alarms.
Meanwhile, the Bill also stiffens the penalties for persons who turn up at fire scenes and pretend or impersonate to be members of the Guyana Fire Service. According to Rohee, this has occurred on many occasions, as there are persons who seek to make economic or personal gain from fire scenes.
The penalties have now increased from $300 and a prison term not exceeding three months to a fine of $150,000 and imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.
The new legislation also sees an increase in the fine for members of the Guyana Fire Service who neglect or refuse to serve or obey any lawful command by the rank who is in charge at the given point in time.
The penalty has moved from $150 to $25,000 given the seriousness of the offence.

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