Hilary Robertson-Hickling

... it is time for us to reconsider our literal or metaphorical concept of 'fire bun' otherwise everything we have might just go up in smoke.

Going up in smoke

During the recent fire at the Riverton City Dump, Kingston and its environs were shrouded in smoke. Thou-sands of persons who suffer from bronchial problems became ill and people experienced great inconvenience. It was heart-rending to realise that persons might be setting fires to ensure that they get the work to put the fire out.

The same explanation has been given to explain the fires in the sugar belt of Westmoreland, which results in the need for the reaping of cane which is not mature and will not yield the required sucrose content. Short-term gain and long-term pain seems to be the order of the day when people take action which will have a long-term negative effect. In a world where sugar quotas have been lost and new possibilities have to be developed for the use of sugar, people are still using a technique which is obsolete.

The impact of poor air quality and other outcomes of burning solid waste are now well known, and health costs and the well-being of people are being adversely affected. The most recent census yields disturbing reports about the popularity of burning as a method of garbage disposal in several parishes. In recent years the demonstrations with the burning tyres and garbage have become a part of our way of life.

Then there are those who routinely clear hillsides with fire, unconcerned about the possibility of the spread of fire. The most tragic are the stories of parents and caregivers who leave children unattended with candles and lamps in the house to find that fires take their lives. It is time that careless persons and arsonists are charged for their criminal acts. Fire drills which were routinely held during my time in high school must become popular again.

smoking in public places

This leads to the vexed issue of people smoking in public places. I am happy to hear that more and more countries and establishments are banning smoking in public places. I believe that there should be designated smoke houses where patrons and staff can congregate to smoke cigarettes and marijuana.

There are those who still wish to smoke although they have been warned about the dangers of smoking. Let them smoke in places where others will not be damaged by second-hand smoke. As I grow older I recognise that people are making the choice to do things that they know will hurt them; the protection of the greater good must be our goal.

We cannot expect the limited fire brigade services to fight fires that people intentionally set, and we know that accidents are possible so we have to be more vigilant.

We have been playing a dangerous game with fire in this country and it is time for us to reconsider our literal or metaphorical concept of 'fire bun', otherwise everything we have might just go up in smoke.

There is the horror story in Central Village where gunmen burnt a house down with their enemy in it and then killed his brother when he went to investigate; or the case where small children were burnt to death in Kingston while others who were trying to put out the fire were threatened with bullets. Sometimes I wonder how we have descended to this hell and how we can redeem ourselves.

Hilary Robertson Hickling is a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies at UWI, Mona campus.