Magistrates to soon hold public inquiry into fire casualties
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, on Thursday tabled for the first reading, the Fire and Casualties Inquiry (Amendment) Bill.
Under the proposed legislation, a Magistrate shall hold a public inquiry into any fire casualty where the report from an investigation by the Guyana Fire Service discloses sufficient reasons for holding an inquiry.
Earlier this year, in Berbice, fire claimed the lives of two young children and their grandparents. Then, Police Commander George Vyphuis had attributed as a primary factor the heavy ironwork surrounding the home prevented fire fighters from rescuing them.
The children were nine and five years old.
Fires also claimed the lives of cultural icon Latchmi Kallicharran and popular Bartica footballer Neil Hernandez among others.
