| By Leonard Gildarie The fire at Gafoor’s Houston Complex last Monday is a tragedy that should worry all Guyanese. First of all, I don’t think we have seen a fire of that enormity for a long time.Leonard GildarieBillions of dollars in stocks, and of the structure itself, were destroyed.The tears in the eyes of the helpless workers, over 500 of them, all told a sorry tale.I was in Gafoor’s a few days before for some materials and was glad that I had collected them. There are many who did not and have monies tied up now.My co-workers and I stood in front of Kaieteur News,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, about a mile away and watched the huge fireball and smoke that engulfed the area.I, myself, was quite taken by the blaze, the extent of it, the suddenness at which it engulfed the complex,Cheap Jerseys Free, but importantly I thought about the people, many of whom would have had to be sent home.Hours after the fire, we learnt that the company was going to re-deploy staff and partially pay those who could not be.The fire inspired this week’s column – because I am of the opinion that it brought out a significant amount of weaknesses in a number of areas and systems.We have been an independent country now for 50 years, and it is hard to see how we just are not getting the basic things right.In this case I am not speaking about or even beginning to mention the fact that what is blatantly clear is that there is one carriageway in and out of Georgetown on the East Bank. That road leads to the thousands of homes on the East Bank. It is a critical link to West Demerara via the Demerara Harbour Bridge, and by extension to the Essequibo Coast, and Bartica, Region Seven. It leads to Linden, a gateway to the hinterland.The fire caused traffic on all sides to backup, snaking back to past Ruimveldt. No movement. How can this be? If anything urgent had occurred and there was need for transport to the city, there was no way to get in.Of course, one of the immediate thoughts to my head is about the insurance. Were the building and the stocks fully insured? We are talking about billions of dollars here for stocks and the buildings. Which insurance company was handling the insurance?Of course, for such a large customer, the insurance companies would have reinsurers overseas.In Guyana, insurance is very necessary. I have heard that there are many properties on Regent Street that are not insured, because it appears that insurers believe that it is too much risk they are incurring on their books.This is worrisome. There is new insurance legislation that would be considered shortly to provide more protection for clients and the companies.The reality, however, is that insurers need to think innovatively of new ways to provide assistance and coverage at reasonable costs while minimizing risks.Another thing that had become all too clear is the number of homes that are going up in flames all over the country. I have noted the breaches; people break all kinds of construction regulations,China Jerseys Online, including building over trenches or on reserves.The government has issued building codes, addressing issues like wiring, and which speaks of fire protection, weight capacity of buildings and even the materials used to construct buildings. While many may see it as a government getting bigger and imposing its views and values on the private sector, the fact is that we need basic regulations to keep us safe and ensure that there is no damage to property and lives.It is what government does and it is in keeping with what prevails around the world.I went to the Gafoor’s site around 11pm on Monday, and the frustration of the faces of the firemen was too clear.They were able to douse the front of the building. But the structure was almost 200 feet wide. It was nigh impossible to reach to the back of the building which borders with Muneshwer’s, which is constructing a wharfing facility next door.If you have ever visited Gafoor’s,Cheap Jerseys From China, you would know it is a large, sprawling complex that has many rooms and departments. It is a fireman’s nightmare. Were there any water sprinklers to help firefighting? If not, it would be mistake that should not be repeated.Businesses should take note.The relevant inspectorate department should also take note. I heard several explosions while on site.I saw the frustration on the face of the Gafoors as they witnessed the complex in flames. It was an ambitious empire that led the way for other businesses to think of moving their operations from the city’s centre.I could not help also but think of how little protection workers in Guyana have.If you really think of it,Jerseys From China, we in Guyana really have no social safety nets. There is the NIS and old age pension that retirees would get, but really it is abysmal – especially the latter.How can a person be expected to survive on a few thousands per month?Similarly,Cheap Jerseys NFL China, there are no unemployment benefits that people can have access to. This is never more evident in cases when people lose their jobs because the company decides to lower capacity or in this case a fire. The case of the Stabroek Market vendors would come to mind too. People lose jobs, yet bills and providing for especially children are responsibilities that still existWe know of the US where programmes are in place for the unemployed, like food stamps.Of course, we are not the US. We are not talking about the establishing of a Sovereign Wealth Fund.There was this one time I remembered seeing a woman walking with a spaced out look on her face. She was decently qualified, had an office job, but the business no longer needed her and because of declining revenues had to let her go.She said she thought she could find a job, but after a lengthy period of not getting anything and having a child, even though she lived with her mother, the lights were being cut off and she was traversing Regent Street for a ‘lil sales girl wuk’. How could this be?We are celebrating 50 years of independence from Britain this year. We have lost opportunities, because of ego, greed, corruption and plain mismanagement.There are really no social safety nets. Workers should be able to contribute and draw from some type of unemployment benefit. Our unemployment benefits are the goodwill of friends and family here and overseas, and this should not be. The employees,NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap, too, I believe, should bear some cost of this unemployment benefit.And this leads me to my last point.The President has in essence said that we are a divided country and we need to come together. Staring at the big picture it may appear to be so, but on Monday I saw all Guyanese from all races empathize for what happen to the Gafoor’s Complex. I saw them wonder and worry about the workers there, and every day I see ordinary people from different races helping each other. I am always so pleased to see this, but it makes me realise that we are more together than the politicians think.We are a few days from the Jubilee celebrations. Can we really talk about unity and social cohesion when our leaders at the top are divided?I hear the Opposition saying they are not sure of participating in the celebrations.I am sure that someone did not hear correctly.We have a golden opportunity. The country is gathering, consolidating and is ready to surge. The watchword may very well be patriotism. |
