Minister Says Only Regulations Cannot Prevent Accidents
By Tea Mariamidze
Monday, June 12
Georgia’s Minister of Culture and Sports Mikheil Giorgadze commented on the recent accident during the school excursion which left 4 people dead and 21 injured.
The minister believes that only adopted regulations will not improve the situation unless these regulations are closely observed by everyone.
“The only solution is to observe the rules that are developed in particular areas. I am very sorry for this tragedy and I offer my condolences to the families of the deceased,” he stated.
Giorgadze remembered another case which happened in 2015, when three boys aged 10 and 11 died in a fire accident in a hotel of Kobuleti, Adjara region in May.
The children were the members of the folk dance group Sikharuli 2 and were accompanied by their teachers and several parents. The group was from Rustavi and they had been preparing to hold a concert in Kobuleti, Georgia’s Black Sea resort.
Forty-eight people were inside the hotel Armazi when it went up in flames. Three children died while 32 children and 13 adults managed to get out safely with the help of police and firefighters.
“After the tragedy, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Health developed very clear regulations regarding the transportation of children. The criteria related to the insurance, adults and planning of the transportation of children were also included but they were not properly observed,” Giorgadze said.
The minister said that first of all, parents, teachers and adults have to make sure that all the safety norms are observed when planning an excursion.
The minibus, taking schoolchildren to the excursion fell into a ravine on Gombori mountain pass and crashed on Saturday.
An investigation is underway under 7th part of the Article 276 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, involving violation of traffic safety rules or rules for operating resulting the death of two or more persons.
The crime envisages imprisonment of 6-10 years.
According to MIA, the driver of the minibus has been detained.
16 out of the total 21 injured are children.
