By Petulia Clarke, Staff ReporterONLY TWO of 45 nightclubs in the Corporate Area of Kingston and St Andrew which have been inspected by the Fire Brigade over the last two years have been deemed safe to operate.
District Officer Wayne Farquharson of the fire prevention division of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, said on Wednesday that despite repeated warnings, some popular nightclubs like the roof-bar Priscilla's on Constant Spring Road, were still operating without proper fire-escape regulations.
He said the department had been visiting the club for over three years with the last visit being in November last year, and making recommendations to ensure the safety of patrons in the case of a fire, but nothing has been done as the owners had taken no steps to address the problems.
Problems with that and other newcomers like G-Spot, New Kingston, which he thinks was "still not ready to open", include inadequate means of escape with no alternative emergency staircase, lack of trained personnel to handle emergencies, inappropriate signage and lack of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in some areas. He said that in the event of emergencies, patrons could be left in danger if the owners do not decide to work along with the Fire Brigade.
Checks by The Gleaner yesterday with Keith Braithwaite, Priscilla's manager, revealed that fire extinguishers and smoke detectors were in place.
In a guided tour, and with the Fire Brigade's warning letter in hand, Mr Braithwaite said the club had had in place for years, all or most of the requirements. The problem of an alternative exit stairs could not be addressed, he said, as the building was not his. He said that he had tried installing a lift, but that thieves used it to break in and steal a television set. The Fire Brigade, he said, hasn't visited recently to certify the nightclub.
But District Officer Farquharson maintains that there are no records in his files that Priscilla's has met with the Fire Brigade's requirements. He said satisfactory measures were still not in place. Another inspection is due this month.
Figures for 1999 to the present, given by the Fire Brigade to the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation's Building and Town Planning Committee meeting indicate that of the 180 nightclubs in Kingston and St Andrew, 45 were inspected and only two had satisfactory fire safety arrangements in place. Also, of 10 of the 30 theatres inspected, only one proved satisfactory and of 23 hotels inspected, only six were satisfactory.
The KSAC listed the safest nightclubs as The Asylum which was deemed unsafe in 1999 because it then had only a single exit (this was corrected later), Caesar's and Girls Girls in Kingston.
The Jamaica Fire Brigade Act, District Officer Farquharson said, did not spell out a specific fine that could be instituted to punish such breaches.
"We have to inspect the place, we have to serve notices, and we have to give the owners adequate time to correct the breaches," he said.
Under the KSAC's regulations, operators of places of amusement, including cinemas and playhouses, are required to have their businessplaces equipped with fire escapes and other items, to handle emergencies, to have inspections done by the Fire Commissioner and an inspector from the city engineer's office as well as a licence before they host events. The lack of the above results in a breach and a possible fine.
District Officer Farquharson said long-term targets of the Fire Brigade were the many stage shows and unauthorised restaurants in St Catherine that the department was becoming increasingly concerned about, as no measures are in place to ensure public safety.
