Minister for Housing Samantha Sacramento MP, last week chaired the first meeting of the Housing Fire Safety Review Committee that was announced by Government following the tragic events that followed the fire at Grenfell Tower in London.

Going forward the working group will be chaired by Geraldine Reading, Principal Housing Officer and is comprised of the Chief Technical Officer, Chief Fire Officer, Head of Housing works Agency, Building Control, Health and Safety, Crown Counsel, Land Property Services and GJBS

The Minister has instructed the working group of senior officials to undertake a complete fire safety review of all current buildings and fire evacuation process and to consider all possible fire prevention measures in blocks and estates including the installation of sprinklers, to prepare a fire awareness campaign specifically aimed at tenants and to make any recommendations on fire prevention, including a review of existing legislation as may be necessary.

The review will include Government rental estates as well as co-ownership estates.

In an abundance of caution, Minister Sacramento has directed that the Chief Technical Officer independently test all cladding materials used in housing refurbishments, samples will be sent to the UK for testing.

The working group will of course be monitoring all reports that are published in the UK.

Tenants are also reminded that a letter was issued by the Housing Department to every single tenant reminding them of the prohibition of having items in common areas, those constituting a fire risk will be removed if they are not cleared by the tenants before next week. Many objects pose obstructions in the case of emergency and everyone has a moral and social duty to ensure that there is no risk to life in the case of emergency.

Minster for Housing Samantha Sacramento MP said “Once again I would like to assure all our tenants that the cladding, both in the materials and methods employed, that we have used in the refurbishment of our estates are totally different to those that were used in the UK. But while we are assured that there is no risk of any occurrence in Gibraltar as the tragic events in London, I wish to be absolutely satisfied that we are doing everything possible by way of fire safety and prevention in our housing estates and as such have commissioned this professional working group to prepare an in-depth review."