Dear Editor,

There is construction work ongoing at a gas station in Lethem where a building is being constructed directly above the fuel pumps. For a casual onlooker this seems potentially dangerous because there is no real foundation upon which this building is being constructed. What happens if the building is poorly constructed and it collapses? Or, suppose someone mistakenly drops a cigarette butt or a lighted match from the construction directly above the pumps or if there is an electrical fire in the building?

Constructing a building directly above fuel pumps at a gas station is very dangerous and risky. It not only puts the persons residing in the building at risk but also those persons who wish to use the gas station to purchase fuel. It therefore begs the question as to how such a construction could have been approved by the necessary authorities.

There is also another construction at another reputable business enterprise where a building is using one of the side fences as a wall. Building codes stipulate that all buildings need to be some distance from the fence boundaries. This would assist in protecting the building/s in the event of a fire. Yet here is a business person blatantly disregarding that law.

The persons owning the buildings that are being constructed are prominent business persons and are high ranking members of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce (RCCI). They should be knowledgeable on matters relating to building codes. Yet, from a layperson’s point of view they seem to be flouting the rules.

Someone needs to investigate these constructions to ensure that they are within the approved building codes. If they are not, then they need to cease construction immediately!

The consequences of poor building construction may not be immediately obvious. But sometime in the future there may be repercussions. If that happens, who will be held responsible?

Yours faithfully,

(name and address supplied)

Editor’s note

We are sending a copy of this letter to the Central Housing and Planning Authority for any comments they may wish to make.