Efforts underway to salvage Guyana Fire Advisory Board

Mar 19, 2018 News

Efforts are underway to reconvene the operations of the Guyana Fire Advisory Board, (GFAB) established under Fire Prevention Act, Chapter 22:01.
Fire Prevention Act, Chapter 22:01; more particularly, Section 3 of that Act, stipulates that a Fire Advisory Board be established
Kaieteur News understands however that the board which is tasked with the duty of advising the Minister of Public Security on matters pertaining to the prevention of fires, has not met for the last two years.
The GFAB is responsible for among other things, inspections of fire stations and based on evaluations making reports to the Public Security Minister, on measures that can be used to improve safety.
The Board should consist of nine members, including the Guyana Fire Service, (GFS) 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 Chambers, the Ex-firemen Association and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association.
Those close to the issue have since noted that efforts are underway to salvage the operations of the GFAB. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official attached to the Ministry of Public Security confirmed that the board is likely to be restored.
“Efforts are underway to ensure that all the stakeholders are contacted and are in place so that there can meet.”
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.
In the past, the GFAB had recommended for the creation and implementation of a new Electrical and Building Code, as well as the removal of dilapidated buildings in and around Georgetown.
The GFAB had cited that faulty and outdated electrical wiring, overloaded electrical systems, poor storage arrangements, non-compliance with building codes, increased fire loads, insufficient fire protection systems as being the most common causes of fires.

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