The death of a three-year-old child in Sea Lots, an area described as a crime hotspot, would be horrible news on its own.But the possibility that the child might have been saved had that blaze happened anywhere else demands clear and focused attention on the matter.Residents at Production Drive, Sea Lots argue that Xavier De Freitas might have lived if firefighters had arrived earlier.
The Fire Service has denied that accusation. Chief Fire Officer Nayar Rampersad told the T&T Guardian that his team was at another fire in Tunapuna and could not respond any sooner than they did.That alone merits some investigation, since fire trucks tend to work areas close to their stations and only travel such distances when the size of a fire warrants it. Was there a blaze of such scale last Wednesday night in Tunapuna?
Residents angrily claim that the firefighters were unwilling to enter Sea Lots until they were accompanied by a police escort.Nothing now will bring this child back to life nor is it likely that any institutional changes prompted by this unfortunate incident will bring much comfort to his grieving family.But the allegation points quite clearly to the lack of a format protocol and policy for managing the delivery of emergency services in areas designated as crime hotspots or simply notorious for late night criminal activity.
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