By People’s Democratic Movement (PDM)
TURKS and CAICOS ISLANDS, Grand Turk – The following is a statement by Douglas Parnell, leader of the People’s Democratic Movement:
The People’s Democratic Movement stands in solidarity with every family affected by the devastating Five Cays fire.
The PDM has pledged $10,000 in cash and essential supplies to help affected families meet their immediate needs. We will work with community representatives to ensure this assistance reaches those who need it most.
We commend the residents who helped their neighbours and the firefighters, Airport Fire Rescue personnel, police officers, social workers and volunteers who responded under extremely difficult circumstances.
But compassion must be followed by accountability.
It is unconscionable that Providenciales, our most populated and heavily developed island, had zero operational conventional fire trucks when Five Cays was burning.
In a country promoting a reported $4 billion investment pipeline, with buildings permitted as high as 12 storeys, residents should be protected by a modern firefighting fleet, properly equipped stations, trained personnel on duty around the clock and aerial equipment capable of reaching every legally permitted building.
This was not a failure of our firefighters. They were placed in an impossible position without the equipment, staffing and emergency systems needed to protect lives and property.
This was a reckless failure of the PNP government.
The government knew or had a duty to know that Providenciales lacked an operational conventional fire truck. The public must be told how long this dangerous condition existed, who knew about it and why interim protection was not secured.
The reported failure to mobilise sufficient domestic firefighters also demands answers. Government must address staffing, overtime, emergency call-out procedures and the delay between the first emergency call and the mobilisation of an effective response.
The PDM demands that government:
- Secure dependable interim fire trucks immediately while permanent equipment is manufactured.
- Publish an interim emergency-protection plan within seven days.
- Establish a properly equipped domestic fire station serving Five Cays and surrounding communities.
- Implement properly staffed and compensated 24-hour duty and emergency call-out arrangements.
- Acquire pumpers, water tenders and aerial-ladder equipment capable of serving buildings up to the permitted 12-storey height.
- Publish the operational condition, age and maintenance history of every government fire truck.
- Conduct an island-by-island assessment of stations, personnel, hydrants, water access and emergency coverage.
- Publish the fire-response review within 30 days, identifying failures, responsibility and corrective action.
- Release the procurement timetable, approved funding and expected delivery dates for all new equipment.
- Strengthen fire inspections, evacuation planning and enforcement in densely populated communities and multi-storey developments.
The PNP government cannot ask the people to remain unprotected for the 12 to 15 months it may take to manufacture new trucks. Interim protection must be secured now.
A country with this much investment, development and public revenue has too much to lose and no excuse for being this unprepared.
The PDM will help the affected families rebuild, and we will hold the government accountable for ensuring that Five Cays is the last community forced to confront a major fire without a properly equipped domestic fire service.