Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) Director General has emphasized that poor electrical connections, overloaded circuses and lack of maintenance continue to pose greatest risks to market fire outbreaks.
Mr. Yusupha M. Jobe made the remarks in Mansakonko, Lower River Region at a forum organized by his office to sensitized market managers, electricians and technical personnel drawn from the eight municipal councils of the country.
He told participants that raising awareness on electrical safety for markets on the developed and approved national electrical wiring standards will go a long way towards reducing fire outbreaks in Gambian markets.
DG Jobe observed that the causes of fire outbreaks in markets are hardly or instantly established and there is strong evidence that poor electrical connections, overloaded circuses, lack of maintenance continue to pose the greatest risks.
He stressed that there is need for a thorough understanding of the electrical safety and national electrical wiring standards to be fully adhered to, in order, to minimize and prevent possible market-related fires in the future.
“Understanding the socio-economic and environmental impacts of market fire outbreaks are multifaceted and critical,” he noted.
He recalled some major inferno experienced in the country namely; 2008 Serrekunda market fire, 2014 Banjul Albert market fire, 2020 Basse market fire and Brikama market fire.
He noted that PURA is committed toward working with stakeholders who are critical players in segmenting grassroots development, while also expressed concern over the sufferings of the many victims of fire outbreaks across the country.
Also, he said most of these victims encountered losses of sources of income and in some cases livelihoods are totally cut-off and families traumatised forever.
Governor of Lower River Region, Mrs. Rohey John- Manjang, commended PURA and Area Councils for the significance of the electrical safety sensitization, saying fire outbreaks in markets are becoming a concern to all and sundry, especially with the increasing recorded infernos.
She emphasized that finding sustainable solutions and measures are geared towards minimizing fire outbreaks in Gambian markets and this should be the responsibility of all.
Governor Manjang added that most fire outbreaks in Gambian markets are as a result of individual Gambians who embark on illegal connections and failing to apply the national electrical wiring standards.
She urged Gambians and non-Gambians to apply the developed national electrical wiring and installation standards in a bid to avert the menace of market fire outbreaks.
She noted that fire outbreaks in markets and homes have damaged properties, ruined family businesses and caused irreparable damages to lives and livelihoods in almost all regions of the country.
