Latest update October 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 15, 2017 News
The need for amendments to the Fire Prevention Act, (FPA) was highlighted during the recent observance of Fire Prevention Week. Chief Fire Prevention Officer, Andrew Holder, said that the Guyana Fire Service has been calling for the Act to be amended to give the Fire Service more power to prosecute negligent persons found responsible for causing fires.
Describing the current legislation as “weak”, Holder said the Act only provides for persons to pay a fine of as low as $25 if found liable for breaching the regulations
“The Fire Prevention Act makes provision for the Fire Department, in the first instance, to verbally warn persons found in breach of the safety regulations.
“If they ignore the warning, then we send them a written notice and thereafter place them before the Courts which according to the Act, defaulters are liable to pay as low as a $25 fine which is highly inconsequential.”
Fire Prevention Act, Chapter 22:01 of the Laws of Guyana makes provisions for establishment of a fire safety board. That board was established in 2006.
It comprises members from various private and public sector organizations including the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Mayor and City Council, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, the Attorney General’s Chamber, the Ex-firemen Association and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association.
The fire safety board is tasked with providing recommendations to the Public Security Ministry regarding fire safety/fire prevention issues, endorsing training, prevention and public education activities on fire safety; coordinating the exchange of information among individuals and organisations interested in fire safety; considering and pronouncing on appeals made by property owners/occupiers regarding fire prevention and facilitating the participation and support of the private sector and other interested groups in fire prevention and safety.
The Guyana Fire Service is expected to inspect buildings and to make recommendations regarding fire prevention in a written report which it is expected to submit, within a reasonable timeframe to property owner/occupier.
If the recommendations are not implemented within a stipulated timeframe, the GFS can institute daily monetary penalties for each day of non-compliance against the property owner/occupier after the deadline.
In 2010 the National Assembly recently agreed to increase these fines and the new sums. Owners or occupiers who disagree with the recommendations can appeal them with the Board.
This year, Fire Prevention Week is being held under the theme, “Embrace Fire Safety: Safeguard your Environment to Promote Sustainable Development” The week of activities also commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the Guyana Fire Service.
As part of the activities planned to spread awareness, several routine fire drills were conducted in prominent spaces including the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
During the week of activities, inspections were also conduct on number of building. Following the inspection, officials attached to the Fire Department disclosed that several city businesses in breached the basic fire safety regulations.
Chief Fire Prevention Officer Andrew Holder noted that facts presented display the scary situation that several commercial entities are currently without fire extinguishers and fire exits among other shortcomings, objects which are necessary in the event of a fire.
He explained that this could be as a result of businesses not renewing its fire safety certificate or businesses proceeding to offer services even without a certificate.
He referred to the fact that there are cases where a business was once a clothing store and was rented to Chinese immigrants, who would have changed the specification of business to a restaurant.
On the mention of this subject, Holder informed that the safety measures for a Clothing Store would differ from that of a restaurant.
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