It’s an undertaking that will forever struggle to register volunteers. For it demands courage. Demands tenacity. Demands dedication. Demands empathy. Where this, the initial hurdle is the more arduous of the two. Extinguish that burning, before hurdling the next. However, that next is certainly mind boggling, necessitating the wherewithal, in investigating infernos. And an investigation it’s, where unseen evidence is ashes, whilst incendiary agents are consumed in the destructive fiery inferno. Thus, an enigma of unknowns. Accidental or intentional? Negligence or Arson?
Burn to build(B2B) policy
However, this is known, our brave firefighters are National heroes, more so with their Herculean efforts at rescuing our perpetually burning schools. For an agony it’s, overwhelming mentally, having to witness our children displaced from schools, whilst a clueless PPP spectates. But this is our Covid recall, PPP unbothered and clueless about our children’s education, even as they profiteered from the mismanaged National disaster.
Thus, this we recall of Covid, brothels APNU+AFC closed, PPP reopened with urgency. In contrast, schools were indefinitely locked, with our children education denied for over 2yrs. Which means, the thousands who having braved the once Covid overran schools, now have a new fear—Being reduced to crematory ashes. Where this is explanatory, our 83,000sq miles, under this incestuous PPP, is of more fires than Sodom & Gomorrah. For literally everyday we are enduring a raze, followed by a multimillion dollar rebuilding contract for PPP cronies.
Burn to build(B2B) cycle
Therefore, we revisit the Northwest Secondary School, where our nightmares took life. Where unknown to teachers and students, the school was registered for the PPP notorious Burn to Build cycle—B2B cycle. Which speaks to two tragic phases- Burn then re-Build for overpriced contracts.
Which meant, on the designated inferno day, the school security was startled by three Ukrainian-type explosions. But before he could have gather his sense and cents, the school was reduced to ashes—Stage #1 of the B2B cycle—Burn.
Then shortly thereafter, in the the dark of night, the B2B conclave convened, to allocate this school rebuilding contract. And most mundane it was, for the contractors were all PPP affiliated. Which meant, one from the cup was rewarded multimillions, to complete the B2B cycle—Build.
Next, presenting a narrative airily familiar, smoke, fire, ashes, was the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School. For that was their B2B cycle first stage, which they completed with yet another conclave, and multimillion rebuilding, for a PPP operative—Build.
But this we’ve heard ad nauseam, the love of money is the root of all evil, evident with the St George’s High School. For this B2B cycle stood unique, as the first and only where students and teachers were at school. Where before such time, PPP took great care to ensure a B2B cycle wasn’t in the eyes and presence of witnesses. But with this B2B cycle outside prescribed school hours, likely PPP was unawares that the students were catching up on post-Covid reading.
So there they were, all studiously, when the janitors bellowed fire, fire, fire pon you. But none responded, for they were with assumptions, the janitors were referring to Kwame and his associates at the St. George’s Cathedral. However, that wasn’t the case, for a B2B cycle was engulfing the school, such that before Jagdeo could’ve stuttered thrice, the School was reduced to smouldering ashes.
But this B2B cycle evidence that PPP, as a party, is more reactive than proactive. For the story goes, on January 8th, a B2B cycle, luckily extinguished, was set off in the laboratory of Christ Church Secondary School. However, with that close call, one would’ve thought PPP would’ve scoured every inch of the school, for fire risk. But that’s not PPP, for a week later, Carl Hooper alma mater was reduce to ashes, even as the rebuilding contract, unlike that for oil, is being negotiated.
Health and Safety
The fact is, when we drop our children off at school, our reasonable expectation is that PPP has provided a safe environment.To that end, we would’ve reasonably anticipated health and safety policies, informing school safety.
But this is the reality, PPP had two Covid years to ensure our children’s safety. However, as it’s, schools are without smoke or fire alarms, therefore a fire not seen or smelt, will see the school and inhabitants, reduced to ashes. Further, fire extinguishers and automatic water sprinklers are nonexistent, thus archaic bucket and water, to quench the early stages of a fire. Which means, in a fire panicked environment, many students will suffocate to be ultimately reduced to ashes. Furthermore, there aren’t identifiable fire exits, with regular students and staff drills. Thus, this disaster awaits, with no defined fire exits, stampede will result in the event of a fire, with many deaths and injuries. Where this represent another shocking truth, pun intended, many of the electrical circuitry in our schools are poorly insulated. Which means, poor electrical insulation and poor infrastructure, would see these schools burning like old paper.
Mark’s take
However, none should celebrate that in less than 2yrs, four schools have been reduced to ashes. Where the underpinning reason is PPP laissez faire approach to our schools’ outdated infrastructure and our children’s safety. In fact, what’s on repeat display is, fire, extinguish fire, rebuild. With no lessons learnt. No mitigation to reduce recurrence.
For this we’re cognisant, it’s cheaper to install smoke and fire alarms in schools, with regular testing, than having to rebuild razed schools. It’s cheaper to have identifiable fire exits, with regular, rather than ad hoc, drills for our children. It’s cheaper to install fire exits in all our schools. It’s cheaper to have a review of all our schools’ infrastructure with remedy, to ensure their fire safe. For this we pain to ask, when will PPP be proactive? Are they awaiting a packed school, a B2B cycle, with our children consequently reduced to smouldering ashes?
