THE EDITOR, Sir:
ANOTHER FACTORY has been engulfed in flames because of an inadequate supply of water in Mandeville. YZ Industries, manufacturers of plastic materials, is the latest casualty in an ongoing list of business places that burn in Mandeville because the Government continues to treat the people as if they must wait on their pleasure to remedy a situation that is so easy to solve.
I received a call from the fire department at 4.15 p.m. stating that they had been trying to get a Rapid Response unit to a fire for approximately 40 minutes, but the security guard was unable to find a driver to respond.
The latest limp excuse is that the drivers from the fire department cannot drive a water truck, that they would have to be trained. How long this would take when drivers can drive a fire engine is beyond me. I just know that it has not happened and another business place has lost millions of dollars of equipment and goods and some 30 people are out of a job. How can we attract business to Mandeville when we cannot guarantee the basics?
Minister Douglas has promised Mandeville $50 million out of an estimated $115 million to start a plan for water for Mandeville that should have been planned and implemented years ago. I am now asking the Minister to allocate all $115 million to the Mandeville project immediately so that the intended three-year implementation time can be brought forward.
I am also asking again for even one of the water trucks from the Rapid Response unit to be stationed at the fire department every night and on week-ends. This should be a matter of course for all fire stations in the island, not just Mandeville.
I would like to commend the firemen of the Mandeville fire brigade for their gallant efforts in fighting the fire. They were fast and they were professional.
I am, etc.,
SALLY PORTEOUS
Deputy Mayor of
Mandeville
