Colombia firefighters stopped by Wackenhut toll collectors
From: campbell@ufomind.com (Glenn Campbell, Las Vegas)
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 15:50:28 -0800
Subject: Colombia firefighters stopped by Wackenhut toll collectors
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[Via JJ Mercieca <mufor@maltanet.net>]
Colombia firefighters stopped by tollbooth row
BOGOTA (Reuter) - Firefighters arrived late to a blaze in
central Colombia when over-zealous highway tollbooth attendants
refused to let them pass without paying, El Tiempo newspaper
reported Thursday.
Private security staff moved in to douse the flaming row
that broke out but instead fanned the flames of discontent when
they pulled out their guns and threatened to shoot up the fire
trucks if the firefighters did not pay.
The highway holdup took place Tuesday on the road between
Pereira, the state capital of Risaralda province, and
neighboring Valle del Cauca province -- operated as a private
concession by multinational security company Wackenhut.
The firefighters finally left without paying but lost vital
minutes getting to the inferno at a brick factory less than a
mile away.
Outraged fire chief Maj. Ramon Salcedo told El Tiempo: ``In
an emergency there's no reason why we should be paying highway
tolls, when people know we're carrying out a community
service.''
Wackenhut officials declined to comment to the newspaper
except to say it was ``rational'' to suppose that in such
circumstances emergency vehicles should be allowed through toll
gates without paying.
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