The article below is culled from the Independent. I smell a rat here. A small
fire destroying only little eveidence. No fire department was called.

Ousman Bojang.


GRTS film tapes destroyed in "small, mid-day fire" Sources say more
destruction occurred

The Independent recently learnt that a "small" fire broke out in the
marketing department of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS),
destroying "a good number of film tapes". Although one worker who begged for
anonymity maintained that the destruction was negligible, other sources
within GRTS suggested that more damage was done to film tapes, files and
cash. When The Independent visited the site only a black mark tracings on one
of the door frames and a burnt window curtain betrayed any sign of the fire,
which "happened accidentally". The staff was busy at work. Sources said the
"accident" had occurred at a crucial time when an auditing team was soon to
begin "visiting" files and record books of the GRTS marketing department.

An insider had earlier alleged that people who wanted to destroy files and
documents to erase possible evidence of financial impropriety might have
orchestrated it. The GRTS marketing officer Kemo Jatta however, denied that
the fire had destroyed files and cash. Speaking to The Independent, a worried
looking Mr. Jatta acknowledged that the fire occurred but claimed that it was
too small to damage anything. He said its cause remains unknown. "It was just
a small fire and nothing was lost," he maintained, adding that he was not
present during its outbreak. When asked whether the matter was reported to
Fire Brigade, he replied in the negative, adding that he could not say
anything more.

The Independent later contacted the Public Relations Officer of the fire
Brigade Momodou Sonko who confirmed after some inquiries with staff that the
GRTS fire was not reported to them. Mr. Sonko believed that it was wrong for
fire outbreaks to be unreported since they could worsen and result in deaths
and colossal destruction to property. He said those who were witnesses to the
GRTS fire should have sounded the alarm to the fire brigade who he said are
often blamed "for arriving late onto the scene". He said their service in the
event of fire emergencies could be more effective if they are notified
immediately.

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