A MASSIVE fire has broken out at the Byderabo dumpsite in Bartica, affecting hundreds of residents in the area, after a commercial bank set alight loads of documents. According to information reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the fire erupted on Wednesday while employees of Scotia Bank were destroying documents at the dumpsite. Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, told this newspaper that the fire gradually spread to other sections of the dumpsite.
“Hundreds of residents are now being affected by the fumes,” he disclosed. At round 17:00hrs, Marshall said he received a phone call informing him that the Byderabo dumpsite was on fire.
“I immediately called the fire service, who was quick to state that their truck is not working,” he recalled.
With little options left and a fear that the fire would further spread, the Bartica Mayor and Town Council formed a water brigade to bring the fire under control. Up to about 19:00hrs they were still battling the flames.
Marshall said the Council is becoming very concerned about the “irresponsible” behaviour of some residents, and in this case the financial institution. He said Government in 2016 spent millions of dollars to restore the dumpsite, which was considered to be an environmental and health hazard.
“It must be noted that central Government has spent millions of dollars on the Byderabo dumpsite, while equipping the Bartica Town Council with machinery and equipment to curb our waste-management challenges,” the mayor noted.
He also used the opportunity to call on residents and stakeholders to support the efforts of the municipality by disposing of their garbage in a responsible manner.