Georgetown: Fire Chief Kalamadeen Edoo says that the Guyana Fire Service remains “optimistic” that the recent fire which ripped through a laboratory at the Georgetown Public Hospital was intentionally set but he noted that investigators are awaiting further lab results.
A fire ripped through the echocardiography laboratory at GPHC
Meanwhile, Crime Chief Deputy Commissioner (ag) Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that a doctor who is attached at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has been arrested and questioned in relation to the fire which erupted at the institution’s Echocardiology Laboratory on January 1.
The doctor in question was sent leave on December 31 following a complaint of sexual harassment made by a female worker.
The doctor, who was arrested and questioned on Tuesday, has since been released on bail as investigations continue.
The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (ag.) Robbie Rambarran related that preliminary investigation suggests that the fire may have been an act of arson.
Later in the day, both the Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony and the Minister of Home Affairs Robeson echoed similar sentiments.
The equipment destroyed costs at least $20 million and will take several months to procure. As such, the hospital’s ability to provide heart test services to scores of patients will be continued.
At the time of the fire, there were at least 11 patients in the vicinity – seven in the cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and four in another ICU. They were all evacuated to safety.
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