Georgetown : Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott outlined a proposal that will soon be tabled, to totally rehabilitate the existing fire hydrant system.
“The system that I’m advocating…is to have underground pipes, that will bring water directly from the Demerara River into these hydrants, so that at a moment’s notice, you can have water at all times, 24/7,” Minister Scott indicated.
He added that whilst the installation of such a system, complete with booster stations at strategic points, will see significant sums being invested, such a system is needed to save property and lives.
“When you look at the long-term effect, which is forever, and what will be saved in terms of no longer having those magnitude of fires and loss of lives, then you cannot put a price on that,” Minister Scott said.
Currently, there is a need to determine who has legal responsibility for the hydrants; however, its ownership will be discussed, and when the new system comes on stream, the new owners will be assigned.
This proposal will soon be discussed with the Mayor and City Council, insurance companies, and other stakeholders, so that the idea can come into existence in a grid- manner, across Georgetown.
“We at GWI (Guyana Water Inc.) will also be saving, as instead of using treated water to out a fire, you’d be using an unlimited supply of water from the Demerara River, to out any fire that arises…where necessary, legislation has to be enacted, (as) we shall be going that way,” Minister Scott outlined.
He also stated that even as proposals are being refined, to be discussed with a number of stakeholders, city and countrywide, the Ministry of Communities has already begun its planning works.
“In the meantime, we are already encouraging our designers, as they design our homes and schemes, to make sure within the plan, the specification for hydrants are actively placed at strategic points,” Minister Scott said.
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