Govt to train lifeguards, conduct hydro surveys at water facilities

More than one week after water facility operators had been instructed to implement a range of safety measures on their premises, Government has signalled its intent to rollout a programme to train lifeguards for deployment to these various facilities.
Most of these facilities are yet to comply with Government’s directives, but considering the lack of alternatives, Government also intends to procure safety equipment to distribute to these operators as a measure to prevent future accidents.
Earlier this month, two young girls lost their lives at a water facility along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. Days after that devastating incident, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn had met with water facility operators and instructed that they install warning signs and barricades, and ensure the presence of lifeguards at their facilities.
In a follow-up on the status of the measures ordered, Guyana Times on Thursday contacted Minister Benn, and he said, “Well, some people have already bought life rafts, life rings, and I think we, the ministry, are buying 80 or more.” This equipment, he said, would be distributed to some operators.
Minister Benn also said that Government intends to train persons as lifeguards, and would be working closely with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) to ensure this happens at the earliest possible time.
“The Tourism Ministry and the GTA, with the (Guyana Amateur) Swimming Association, have been doing lifeguard training and also rescue training. So, the training of the lifeguards in respect of how you recover from the water and also in relation to resuscitation is what we have been doing. So those are a few things we probably are (going to be doing) for another week. We will have a complete thing,” Minister Benn disclosed.
Further, Minister Benn revealed that a survey would be done to determine what other gaps exist in terms of safety at facilities of this nature.
“There is a hydro-survey that we are doing, and this will be completed next week, so the gauges can be put in place,” he has said. “We’re working along with different people, sort of more countrywide response, because these are not the only swimming places. Not only the highway, but the issues with Linden at the mined-out areas, the blue lakes; and there are other places around the country which we precipitate these things now (as) a comprehensive response, together with the other agencies.”
Among the other partners with which the Ministry is working are the Culture, Youth, and Sport Ministry; Tourism Ministry; the GTA, and several private agencies and businesses.