Profit more important than people

Corners continue to be cut, and another hotel fire is hardly a surprise. Take, for example, a five-star international brand-name hotel which opened last year out of compliance with local fire prevention standards (and remains so, as far as local residents can tell). Additionally, fire hydrants and emergency access areas are blocked by cars and vans as a matter of course. The routine delivery of gas canisters is a dangerous joke, and there’s more.

Surely it is now high time for a complete overhaul of the fire, safety and hotel certification process. And what of insurance? How many hotels are adequately covered? Who checks? The hotel mentioned above refuses to disclose its own public liability insurance cover. And what of international brand names? How responsible are they when an accident takes place, especially if their own negligence plays a part?

These tragedies will continue to happen until human beings are seen to be more important than saving time and face, securing contracts, cutting costs, collecting backhanders and reaping big fat profits.

John Shepherd 

Bangkok