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Ministry cover-up of fire at forensic science lab exposed
It took more than a week but the Ministry of Home Affairs has finally confirmed that fire struck at the $900M Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory.
The Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory
It took a post on social media from Alliance for Change Executive Member Nigel Hughes for the general public to be made aware of the situation which occurred last week Tuesday and has rendered a section of the edifice inoperable.
But the Ministry of Home Affairs is downplaying the effects of the fire claiming that Hughes was exaggerating.
According to Hughes, the fire on March 17th which started at an electrical outlet in the office of the Head of the Technical Department was so intense that it blew out the glass wall which separated the room from the rest of the floor as well as burnt all the electrical outlets on the rest of the floor.
Hughes posted that the fire started in the socket and spread to a chair which was next to it.
According to Hughes, the Government was advised prior to the fire that the electrical installation and air circulation in the building was faulty and poor.
“The overseas consultants have repeatedly advised the Government that the air flow quality is unacceptable as it circulates and re-circulates toxic air in the building. The government to date has failed to effect any changes to the air flow operations. Staff members have been falling ill since they were allowed into the facility in July 2014,” Hughes wrote.
He said that the construction of the laboratory is poor with loose tiles scattered throughout the building.
Staff members who have been relocated to another facility at Ogle have been forbidden to speak with the press and as a consequence the matter has escaped media attention.
“Almost 1billion dollars and counting, we can’t even get the air flow and electrical system right while there is no DNA capacity at the facility. Better must come,” Hughes wrote.
But the Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement directly responding to Hughes’ claims acknowledged the fire but dismissed it as a minor electrical one.
The Ministry said that contrary to Hughes’ claims that the fire “burnt all the electrical outlets on the rest of the floor”, only a small fraction of electrical outlets were actually affected and these are being replaced.
The Ministry explained that the fire itself was caused due to the proximity of a chair to an outlet when the outlet itself burned due to an electrical surge and a problem which developed in a phase in one of the main cables.
According to the Ministry, contrary to Hughes’ assertions, the Ministry of Home Affairs was not advised prior to the fire that the electrical installation in the building was faulty and poor.
Moreover, upon completion of the electrical installation at the GFSL, the Contractor produced a Certificate of Inspection.
With regard to the issue of air quality at the Laboratory, the Ministry said it is currently proceeding with legal action against the design consultant.
Whilst this process is ongoing, consultations are being made with regard to identifying a temporary solution for correcting the air flow issue.
“These issues, while regrettable, cannot be attributed to negligence on the part of the Ministry and by extension the Government of Guyana, thus the Ministry rejects the allegations made in the release by Mr. Hughes,” the Ministry stated.
It refuted the statement that the “construction of the laboratory is poor with loose tiles scattered throughout the building”.
According to the Ministry, evidence of poor construction and loose tiles has not been reported by the Ministry’s representatives on their regular visits to the GFSL nor has the Ministry received complaints on that specific allegation from the staff of the GFSL.
“It is not unusual for teething problems to be discovered when such a highly technical and complex structure is built and put into operation. The Ministry therefore is of the opinion that Mr. Hughes by his comments on this matter is imparting political motives to the staff of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said it gives highest consideration to the health and safety of its staff and staff of the agencies under its purview and is making efforts to ensure that any deficiencies currently being experienced at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory are alleviated on a timely basis.
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