Tabari fire should be a wake up call

Letters

NOT long ago there were a lot of accolades about major developments taking place in Port Moresby and of how fast the capital city is growing without the public’s knowledge of the dangers lurking within these developments.
One of these is the concern raised last Wednesday (March 22) by the Port Moresby Chamber about the fire hazard in Port Moresby.
The very next day, a fire at the iconic Tabari Place gutted a fast food shop, a merchandise shop and a pharmacy while opportunists took the advantage of looting other adjoining shops.
Thank God no lives were lost in the fire and the ensuing looting.
In the civilised world, whoever is head of an organisation would tender their resignation no matter how big or trivial the disaster or mishap is.
Look at the comments made by the respective organisations: NCDC – the fire hydrants are not working and vandalised; Eda Ranu – water pressure is too low; and PNG Fire Services – our only truck has mechanical problems.
There was no word from the city planner where it is a mandatory requirement that there should be a fire hydrant every hundred meters.
Excuses, excuses and more excuses.
All of these state entities have demonstrated their sheer incompetency and their CEOs should resignation with immediate effect or the National Executive Council should terminate them on the spot.
For heaven’s sake, the fire station is just a stone’s throw away and would take a minute or two to contain the fire.
I just cannot imagine if there was a fire on the 16th floor of Deloitte Tower or any of the high rise buildings in the city.
Proper planning and accountability is a must.
Let us not boast about Port Moresby as it is definitely a fire hazard city.

Tumba Biinem
Port Moresby