Sparman dodges question on Fire Advisory Board status

CoI into deadly prison riot

The Fire Service’s implementation of measures outlined in the Fire Prevention Act was scrutinised at Tuesday’s hearing of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of 17 prisoners at the Camp Street Prison. In the cross-examination, Attorney Christopher Ram sought to determine whether the Fire Service indeed observed all of the Standard Operating Procedures.

Ram grilled the Officer in Charge of Operations, Compton Sparman, over the Fire Service’s operations on the day of the deadly prison fire and questioned him over what he knows about the Fire Prevention Act, Chapter 22:01; more particularly, Section 3 of that Act, which stipulates that a Fire Advisory Board be established. Sparman however avoided the questions regarding the body’s status.
“That decision would be made with the Chief Fire Officer, I know for sure a board supposed to be in place but whether it is functioning or not, it is not within my remit to make such a statement,” the Officer in Charge of Operations stated.
The attorney then asked the witness if he was aware that the Chief Fire Officer or any inspector could enter the premises for inspection purposes where there is a danger of an outbreak of fire.
“I am perfectly aware,” responded Sparman. He related that he has general knowledge of the inside of the prison based on prior inspections but could not state when the last inspection of the Georgetown prison was done.
In Monday’s testimony, Sparman told Commissioners that firemen could not rescue the burning inmates since the Prison Service was giving the orders. On Tuesday, the Fire Officer suggested that “certainly” the high prison population increased the potential for loss of life as was the case of the March 3 fire.
In re-examination by Attorney representing the Joint Services, Eusi Anderson, Sparman reiterated that fire fighters used some caution in their approach to the deadly blaze as they could have been trapped due to the “raucous behaviour” of the inmates and the layout of the Georgetown prison.
Throughout this week, witnesses from the Joint Services will continue to give their testimonies.