Merchants praise NPC action on gas leak

Swift action by the National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) to repair a leaking gas line on Tudor Street, The City is being praised by the area’s small business owners despite the incident hampering business for the day.

On Tuesday, after reports of a gas leak, police officers and firefighters responded to emergency calls from Tudor Street. A section of the street was cordoned off to allow NPC workers to investigate the leak. Small traces of methane were later found in the atmosphere.

On Wednesday, some small business owners told Barbados TODAY that while their operations were affected, they were pleased the issue was resolved swiftly.

Jerry The Hat Man, a Tudor Street vendor, said he had to pack up his display of colourful bucket hats and leave when first responders cordoned off the area, restricting the flow of foot traffic and potential customers.

“The leakage was going on just before Christmas,” he said. “We were smelling gas and at first we thought it was being emitted from vehicles passing, but then we realised it had to be a leak. So yesterday, I was impacted because people could not pass and frequent the area how they are accustomed to so I had to shut down the business. But it is not a problem; safety comes first. I was pleased by the quick response because if there was an explosion and we died, you can’t do anything. So I think the men did a great job and the response was nice.”

Despite experiencing a reduction in sales, Philip Small, owner of Genesis Boutique, also thanked the gas company’s workers for taking action without delay.

Owner of Genesis Boutique Philip Small.

He told Barbados TODAY: “[Because] people could not frequent the area as they normally would, my business was tremendously impacted. So if people are restricted from going to businesses the sales are going to dip. We were not expecting anything like this opening for the first working day of the year having gone through the long break for the New Year celebrations. But I understand that it had to be done because a gas leak is serious and the particular area where the gas was detected is a place where a lot of people smoke and drop cigarette buds so I did appreciate the efforts that were taken to protect the public.

“I think that the work the NPC guys did was very effective because you can no longer smell gas and what I appreciate more was the response; it was quick. In Barbados, we are accustomed to things dragging and it was not a case like that. The workers came out, did their checks and identified where the leak was coming from and went to work on it at the same time.”

However, Small said he did not appreciate how the first responders went about cordoning off the area.

“Yesterday, people just came and closed off the street without even telling us what was the reason why,” he said. “It is only when a prominent businessman came out and questioned the police, we saw the type of public relations we should have been getting from the beginning. You can’t treat people like that; you should consult with the people and explain what is going on.”

Colin Primo, who sells a variety of female and male undergarments, belts, wallets, perfumes and other items along Swan Street, said he was still able to make sales on Tuesday as customers took alternative routes to access his vending space.

“I was here from the time they closed off the area,” Primo said. “In fact, they had blocked off a section at the bottom of Swan Street here but a [prominent businessman] spoke with the lawmen and they decided to carry the caution tape further down, closer to Tudor Street. I was still able to make sales as I was the last vendor on the stretch before the caution tape. I did not smell any gas but other people said they smelt it all morning. I saw when the men came and used the machines and dug up the earth in the evening to fix the leak. So I was pleased about the response. The NPC men came quickly and did a good job.”

In a statement, NPC said that a team returned to the area around 9:49 a.m. on Wednesday to conduct a further leak survey. The workers did not detect any methane odour.

The release further stated: “Officers liaised with several members of the business community regarding the original complaint. Feedback was received advising that the natural gas scent was no longer present.”

The state-owned corporation’s acting general manager, Ian Bradshaw, also weighed in on the situation, warning of likely future incidents as it moves to replace ageing gas lines:

“The natural gas mains replacement project is ongoing and is designed to replace aged infrastructure cast iron pipelines along Highway 7, My Lord’s Hill and Bridgetown. Therefore, during these continued works, we would like to sensitise the public of the possibilities of experiencing suspected gas leaks and strong scents of gas.”

The statement added that the NPC will continue to monitor the area and public updates will be provided.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb