Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal said on Wednesday the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) could spend up to $100 million to retrofit and refurbish 61 of its buildings across the country to meet fire safety standards.
“I am confident once the estimates are done properly and the procedure established, I am confident we will be in a position to source the funding and to begin this type of work,” he told reporters following a meeting with fire officials in Port of Spain.
Moonilal said officials have identified 61 buildings for repairs, including the one at Trou Macaque, Laventille that was damaged in a fire last month that claimed four lives.
“I am confident once the estimates are done properly and the procedure established, I am confident we will be in a position to source the funding and to begin this type of work,” he told reporters following a meeting with fire officials in Port of Spain.
Moonilal said officials have identified 61 buildings for repairs, including the one at Trou Macaque, Laventille that was damaged in a fire last month that claimed four lives.
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| Trou Macaque building ablaze |
“There are no fire escapes in certain buildings, we have been in discussions with the Fire Service as well and they have come up with a comprehensive list of actions that are required for the provision of fire extinguishers, involving the use of fire hose reel systems to quickly confront fires,” he said.
The minister added that there are structural issues in some buildings that must be fixed to allow for the safe escape in the event of a fire.
He said it could take about three months to install fire escapes, and sprinkler and smoke detection systems. In addition he said residents will get the appropriate training to deal with emergencies.
“Our tenants must have the right approach, this is to protect them and their children, we will have to train and educate our tenants how not only to use the equipment, how to protect it as well otherwise it will defeat the purpose,” he said.
The minister added that there are structural issues in some buildings that must be fixed to allow for the safe escape in the event of a fire.
He said it could take about three months to install fire escapes, and sprinkler and smoke detection systems. In addition he said residents will get the appropriate training to deal with emergencies.
“Our tenants must have the right approach, this is to protect them and their children, we will have to train and educate our tenants how not only to use the equipment, how to protect it as well otherwise it will defeat the purpose,” he said.
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