THE Guyana Fire Service will be reintroducing strict requirements for the issuance of safety certificates given the increase in emergencies and other fire related disasters within Guyana’s hospitality sector, according to the country’s Chief Fire Prevention Officer, Andrew Holder.

On the sideline of a Fire Safety Training Seminar for operators within the hospitality sector, Holder told reporters that over the past three years, there has been an increasing trend of fire related disasters.

For the first seven months of 2017, the Guyana Fire Service responded to 25 emergency calls from the hospitality sector, the Chief Prevention Fire Officer said while pointing out that the figure has almost doubled for the same period this year with 43 calls being registered.

Based on investigations conducted, negligence and lack of knowledge with respect to fire safety and arson, topped the list of contributing factors. Holder said just about three weeks ago, the Fire Service averted what could have been a major fire disaster at a food establishment on the East Coast of Demerara as a result of negligence.
He complained that many of the operators of hotels, guest houses, restaurants and eateries have failed to bring their establishments in compliance with safety requirements established by the Guyana Fire Service.

“As we speak the Fire Service has withheld a number of safety certificates for some of these entities because of the fact that they are non-compliant with our regulations and requirements,” Holder disclosed.

Chapter 22:02 of the Fire Service Act of the Laws of Guyana stipulates that the Chief Fire Officer must be satisfied that a premises is safe enough for human gathering before issuing a safety certificate.

While the Fire Service is pro-investment and pro-development, the Chief Fire Prevention Officer said it will mandate in the not so distant future that all operators adhere to the established regulations and requirements.

“In order for any hotel, guest house or similar establishment to be given this safety certificate, several things have to follow, an inspection of the premises, compliance with our recommendations and requirements and some amount of training in evacuation procedure for the staff because we need hoteliers to understand, should anything happen at their place of business, they are responsible for their guests,” he explained. It was noted too that the Guyana Fire Service is currently working with the Ministry of Public Security to upgrade and strengthen the Fire Prevention Act.

As it is, the Fire Prevention Act consists of provisions for legal actions to be taken, but according to Holder, the process is usually a lengthy one. He said that aside, the Fire Service remains pro-investment, and would utilise alternatives to ensure that the requirements are met.

The one day seminar which was held at the Fire Service Headquarters in Georgetown on Friday was attended by approximately 25 representatives from various hotels and restaurants including the Guyana Marriott, Tower Suites, the Guyana Pegasus, Grand Coastal Inn, and Sleep Inn. While it targeted smaller establishments as well, their representatives were a no show.

“These (guest houses and small food establishments) form the majority of our issue because of the fact that they are not up to international standards, they are not pressured to maintain proper housekeeping, maintain their electrical wiring,” Holder explained.
He noted that often times when they are approached by the Fire Service, there is resistance. “Some of them would tell us that they are operating on a small scale and they can’t afford to put fire safety systems in place and stuff like that,” he explained.
The seminar was organised to edify operators within the industry of their roles and responsibilities should there be an emergency or disaster at their entity. As such, focus was placed on general fire prevention – the chemistry of fire; kitchen fire safety in hotels; techniques in handling pots, stoves, microwaves and blenders among others; evacuation procedures; and use and operation of fire extinguishers. Additionally, major emphasis was on the need to have in place safety mechanisms such as sprinklers and fire extinguishers in place.