Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 27, 2009 News
By Brushell Blackman
Suspicious fires will come under greater scrutiny with the passing of the Fire and Casualties Inquiry (Amendment) Bill in the National Assembly yesterday. The bill stipulates that a magistrate can institute a public inquiry if there is enough evidence to suggest that it was an act of arson.
In piloting the bill, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said that such an inquiry will apply for both dwelling houses and business establishments. He said that after initial analysis by the Guyana Fire Service, and if there are sufficient reasons, the file will be sent to the Criminal Investigation Department for a further probe. After investigations by the police, and if it would have been established that the fire was an act of arson, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will be sought for advice and charges laid against those culpable.
Rohee said while he was not downplaying other fires, high profile ones will attract greater attention, with persons clamouring to know of their origin. The Minister said that although the outcome of the case is not dependent on the fire service, the magistrate that oversees the inquiry should pay great attention to the investigative work done by that body. He said that with such a process, the fire service’s role is magnified.
Drawing attention to what obtained prior to the passage of the legislation, Rohee said that a magistrate could disregard the report of the fire service which many times is subsumed in the police report to the DPP. He expressed hope that now, with the bill having been approved, the magistrate would take into account the report of the fire service when starting an inquiry, as that (fire service) is the qualified entity on such matters.
Rohee said that many may question what constitutes sufficient reasons to warrant an inquiry. To this he said suspected arson, negligence in situations where huge compensations are involved and death or injury caused by the conflagration.
This legislation comes on the heels of fires that have destroyed a number of businesses along Regent Street.
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