A doctor has been questioned by police as the probe into the fire which destroyed the echocardiography (ECG) laboratory at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) continues, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday confirmed to Stabroek News.
Stabroek News understands that the doctor was detained after investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the hospital. A source told this newspaper that the doctor was suspended from work following allegations of sexual harassment against him by a staff member.
Leading up to the fire, the footage showed the doctor’s presence in the vicinity of the ECG laboratory. Due to the fact that he was suspended, he was not required to be on duty nor to be in the area of the laboratory.
Blanhum yesterday explained that the doctor was questioned by investigators and subsequently released on bail.
The fire on New Year’s Day destroyed the public health system’s lone ECG laboratory and has left some $25 million worth of damage behind.
From preliminary investigations, Arson is suspected to be the cause of the fire.
Fire Chief Kamaladeen Edoo yesterday told Stabroek News that investigations are ongoing and they are currently awaiting results from the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL) to confirm the type of liquid used to ignite the fire.
He explained that based on the extent of damage, the fire started approximately 30-45 minutes prior to persons becoming aware of it.
“What happened there was after all the oxygen in the room would have been consumed that is when it started to smoke and persons became aware of it. The fire was dying down at that point leaving the smoke to escape through vents,” Edoo informed as he emphasised that the confinement of the blaze prevented the fire from spreading to the rest of the hospital.
He related that five 6.5kg CO2 fire extinguishers were used to put out the fire in the laboratory and applauded his team for an “excellent” and swift response.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Robbie Rambarran yesterday told this newspaper that they are seeking to expedite the process of replacing the ECG machine. He disclosed that they were looking to procure an additional machine in their 2022 budgetary allocation, but now they will have to source two machines instead of just one.
Rambarran had told this newspaper that the fire-fighters stated that the items in the room were drenched with a flammable substance and there was no evidence of the blaze being electrical in nature. He said that nurses recalled that around midnight a strange smell filled the air but they were uncertain what it was and where it was coming from.
The Fire Service had said that Water Tenders #102, #105, #106, and #112 from the Central, Campbellville and Alberttown Fire Stations were summoned to the GPH at about 5:24 am.
The fire occurred in the echocardiography room which is located on the first floor of the GPH and the entire room was severely damaged. The prompt response of the GFS resulted in the containment of the blaze and prevented it from spreading to other parts of the hospital, the release said.
The ECG machine was donated to the laboratory some years ago by donors from the University of Calgary in Canada.
