Yesterday a 32 year old manufacturing business Tropical Beverages located at the Grazettes Industrial Park was severely damaged by fire. Reports in the media suggest 16 employees are currently displaced by the tragedy. BU cannot imagine the pain and mental anguish which the owner of Tropical Beverages must be experiencing. Bear in mind this is a company which has defied the odds for longevity in the manufacturing sector. Hopefully time will tell what caused the fire. The Barbados Fire Service and the Royal Barbados Police Force must have taken note of the high number of fires at the Grazettes Industrial Park over the years.
According to statistics floated, Barbados has experienced over 400 fires for the season. Sugar officials have already expressed concern that the high number of fires has reduced the projected yield of 30, 000 tons for the sugar crop 2010. Over 250, 000 acres affected by fire to date. Last week an elderly lady had to be rescued from a burning house. Today a property in Wildey next to the Texaco Gas Station went up in smoke. The underpaid and undermanned Barbados Fire Service Officers have been working around the clock to prevent Barbados from sizzling to ash.
BU followed with interest recently Commissioner of Police patting himself on the back because the crime statistics year over year remained flat. The point is not stressed enough about the statistics reported on by the RBPF; statistics are compiled based on reports received from the public. The reality remains for those with commonsense to discern that there are enough weeds overrunning the lawn to cause worry.
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Should Barbadians worry why an intelligent society should experienced 400 fires over a relatively short time?
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Should Barbadians worry the cases of HIV and AIDS continue to rise in the 15 to 19 age group?
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Should Barbadians continue to worry that for over 25 years successive governments have not been able to adequately regulate the private and public transportation sectors?
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Should Barbadians continue to worry about an education system which has become irrelevant to sustaining national development?
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Should Barbadians worry…
A society which is responsible for so many fires at a time of drought suggests as a people we should be very worried (Possibly some of the fires have been accidental) The weeds continue to overrun our lawns and we stand meekly by the way. Sorry Commissioner Dottin, your charts provide excellent PR but underground BU know better.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.