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UPDATE: NDP Govt’ got their priority mixed up – VG Resident

With no working fire tender at Virgin Gorda, a pump and other apparatus are placed in the back of pick-up truck which does not have the space to accommodate any container for water. Photo: VINO
Chief Fire Officer Mr Zebalon McLean told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview yesterday March 12, 2014 that contingency plans for firefighting failed on Tuesday morning. Photo: VINO/File
Chief Fire Officer Mr Zebalon McLean told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview yesterday March 12, 2014 that contingency plans for firefighting failed on Tuesday morning. Photo: VINO/File
A Ford Explorer alight at North Sound, Virgin Gorda, this morning March 11, 2014. Photo: team of reporters
A Ford Explorer alight at North Sound, Virgin Gorda, this morning March 11, 2014. Photo: team of reporters
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI – “We are in still in need of fire trucks; I have made that clear to the Government that we really are in need of fire trucks because the ones that we have, have really done their time,” Chief Fire Officer Mr Zebalon McLean told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview yesterday March 12, 2014.

Mr McLean was at the time responding to questions posed to him about the absence of a fire truck at Virgin Gorda as several person have been expressing grave concern about this issue. One such person is Mr Bailey Landover, resident at North Sound Virgin Gorda.

“This is the greatest situation a remote Island like Virgin Gorda has to face up to and the government is definitely having their priority mixed up, how could you have no fire truck in a place like this, they are waiting for something extremely bad to happen before they get serious?” questioned Mr. Landover.

The fears of residents on the Island have manifested itself as recently as Tuesday morning March 11, 2014, when at North Sound, a motor vehicle burst into flames and the made shift fire truck and fire fighter turned up with only the protective gears, a pump in the back of a pick-up truck and no water.

“Could you imagine if that driver was trapped in that vehicle, could you imagine, that fuel had leaked out of the burning vehicle, run down the hill and the fire had follow it?” expressed another resident who chose only to be identified as Mr O’Neal.

Mr McLean said that there were contingency mechanisms in place for incidents such as the one on Tuesday, which sadly, fell through. “I spoke with residents long before this (the fire) happened and they had expressed that they felt that they were being exposed to risks and I told them that we had contingencies, unfortunately some of the contingencies did not work like how we had planned,” said Mr McLean.

He noted that like the feelings of many, the situation at Virgin Gorda is no different than that at Tortola, “But tomorrow I have to still keep going, still keep trying,” he added. He explained that one of the back-up arrangements that were put in place was for a water supply unit to accompany to the pick-up which was equipped with the pump and the other firefighting apparatus. “But sadly that fell though; it didn’t work,” Mr McLean said.

According to Mr O’Neal many persons are guilty of attempting to defend the actions of the current government but, “This is not something that any organization or group of people or no one rich man could just step up and deal with; these are priority matters for a Government but this NDP Government got their priority mixed up, messed up and they continue to be blind.”

The man said that he had given the NDP his vote but noted it is a mistake he would not be making in the future should they continue with especially three Ministers; Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn; Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool and Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton.

“They failed me, they failed the people of the BVI and they are a failure to themselves,” he said and was supported by several others who were in his company at the time. “Tell them me the big man O’Neal says so,” he added.

See previous story published March 11, 2014:

Vehicle catches afire at VG

- No serious injuries to occupant, no water in made shift fire truck

NORTH SOUND, Virgin Gorda, VI - A Ford explorer burst into flames a short while ago at North Sound Virigin Gorda but the driver managed to escape unhurt.

Eyewitnesses said that the vehicle being driven at the time by a man whose was only known as 'King Man' burst into flames as it reached the top of the hill in the vacinity of the bump at North Sound.

While the driver, a Vincentian, was able to vacate the burning car, his hopes of salvaging any of his personal effects from the car were dashed as firefighter turned up with their made-shift fire truck allegedly without water. "All they had in the back of a pick-up was a pump and they couldn't do a single thing," this news site was told by an eyewitness.

Another person who turn up on the scene as the car was still ablaze confirmed that the firefighters present were of no use as they were forced to stand by and watch the car burn flat.

This news site will provide follow-up details.

30 Responses to “UPDATE: NDP Govt’ got their priority mixed up – VG Resident”

  • west (11/03/2014, 08:42) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    WELL SAW VINO YOU JUST DO NOT MISS ANYTHING
    • ..... (13/03/2014, 14:25) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      No, they miss everything positive that the government is doing...now I subscribe if you edit your comment to read, they miss absolutely nothing that could possibly bring negative press to the current administration!
  • Fire Man (11/03/2014, 09:00) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
    So if it was a house fire, and the fire trucks had no water then what? What are the purpose of having fire trucks without water smh
    • hm (11/03/2014, 11:40) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      They should have just stayed at the station. They went to the scene to be useless. smh
      • Hmm (13/03/2014, 10:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        They went on the scene so people could say at least they were there....thaz a set a BS
    • smh (11/03/2014, 12:46) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Question is where is the real fire truck that would have had water
  • ccc (11/03/2014, 09:05) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    If this was the states ford could have been sued
  • dem say (11/03/2014, 09:44) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    VINO BAAAAAAD MEH SON
  • No mehn (11/03/2014, 09:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Welsah
  • LEGALIZE IT (11/03/2014, 10:21) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    I feel they should be sued. Which fire truck should leave the station to respond to a fire with a MAKE SHIFT FIRE TRUCK WITHOUT WATER?????
  • Thing to talk (11/03/2014, 10:59) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Call Road Town FS and ask the CFO,why VG has one F/truck and why east & west FSS close down..And why all the FSS R in those terrible conditions???SMH...The ppl them say he worrying about the guys using cellphones on the job lol lol....Give Penn the dam seat.
  • qc (11/03/2014, 11:18) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank god no life was lost
  • chad (11/03/2014, 13:10) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    is this the king man that won road march with the song car keys ?
  • hilda (11/03/2014, 13:47) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    no he cannot get it . what you all dont say that the ceo does not buy the trucks is the government leave the man alone you haters you all give him money fire trucks ? he would recommend and the government do the rest .
    • ... (11/03/2014, 17:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      But he has the authority to say what is needed... If there is a need for a new trick he can put in the proposal. Come on if the chief insists the fire department needs something why would the government turn it down? He isn't doing his job.
  • wow (11/03/2014, 14:01) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    Fire Truck showed up to scene with out water? smh.. When folks say fireman dont do work they really dont. All those guys do Virgin Gorda is sit under a tree play dominos, talk people business and wash down THIER VEHICLES!! with the WATER that their suppose to fill the truck with!! This is to be check EVERY MORNING!! smh
  • Yes (11/03/2014, 15:11) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    They sit under the tree,cause the office is to small lol lol lol..VIP,NDP which ever P....You all should be Dam shame.Look what the BVI coming too smh!!!!!
  • psh (11/03/2014, 15:53) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Them just want to talk bout who woman wud this man. . Who man with this woman. . Washin down vehicle everyday .. no water in fire truck
    • jet (11/03/2014, 18:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      YOU BIG I IF WAS NOT A FIRE YOU CANNT READ A PUMP IN A TRUCK FOOL why dont you people make noice to get this place right we need to get together
  • chad (11/03/2014, 18:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Soooo....what was the purpose of going to the scene? They can sit and tell you everything about EVERYBODY in VG, but yet they cant do their jobs. I hope when they go sitting under the tree tomorrow they talk bout THAT!!
  • Jack Sprat (11/03/2014, 22:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    the fire truck went to tortola to fix many months ago and never came back......that could tell u how much this government cares about the sister islands. they could of hire a water truck to stay at the fire station for this period of time.
  • Send them home (12/03/2014, 01:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All needed to be let off from work. If this a house even their house or schools where they love ones go to it would have burn flat, because no matter where they go, they still did not had any water.

    Poor work. & yes all them do is set and talk this and that, how I know, I dose be there too, sometimes.
    come on guys, your not cut out for that.
  • Fire safety (12/03/2014, 10:25) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree that a fire truck without water is not of much use in many circumstances However, gasoline fires should not be put out with water as burning gasoline floats and could have set the bush alight. Instead, one needs to use fire extinguishers rated for hydrocarbon fires (B rated) of sufficient size. So, the question becomes, why were there no such extinguishers in the fire truck? And, why didn't the fire department know any better?
    I drove past the burning vehicle twice within about 30 minutes, and all the FD did was standby, and allowed the car to burn to the ground (including tyros), damaging the road. Could they not have sent for fire extinguishers? Very worrisome, indeed.
  • fire work (12/03/2014, 22:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    bet if dem offer any one o ayo a wrk fire, ayo tek it wid th furst word. who know know, who dont nkow wud wonda
  • tretretrete (13/03/2014, 09:24) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP in for 2yrs and everything is their fault.
  • ooooo (13/03/2014, 11:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP no dam priority
  • VG (13/03/2014, 23:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Give thanks, they went to the sight to make sure the person was okay. God is in the midst of every situation, let us continue to pray for both driver including his family and the Fire Department.


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