Fire razes Pt Fortin shopping complex

POLICE are baffled over the cause of a $3 million fire which gutted a shopping complex early yesterday morning in Point Fortin. The blaze has left 30 people jobless. Police investigating the destruction of the shopping complex at Frisco Junction have not ruled out foul play and were up to late yesterday trying to ascertain the cause of the blaze Yesterday, businessman Christopher Chin Kong, whose store is located opposite the complex, told Newsday that his mother saw the back of the roof of the complex on fire around midnight. Chin Kong said that fire tenders from the nearby fire station were only able to prevent the fire from spreading to other adjacent businessplaces, as the fire spread rapidly throughout the complex. The complex was owned by San Fernando proprietress Dulsie Mahadeo, 61, and housed seven stores, including Kelvin DLR Ltd, owned by Mahadeo. All seven stores, including furnishings and supplies, were destroyed — HR Drugs, Leo McBurnie Clock and Watch Repair, Charlie’s Black Pudding, Balles and Ballets Boutique, Soodeen’s Classes and a hairdressing salon.

Mahadeo wept as she gazed at the remains of her complex yesterday morning, when Newsday visited the scene. She estimated her losses to be between $3 million and $4 million. “I lose too much. I feel like I losing my life,” the elderly Mahadeo sobbed. She said she had the building up for sale for the past three years because she had grown old and was not in the best of health. Recently, she added, she had had the building renovated. Manager of Charlie’s Black Pudding, Willon Attong, speculated that an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire. “When I use to be here, we always had problems with the transformer. TTEC is the cause!” Attong said. Nicole Louis, an employee of Charlie’s Black Pudding, said she reported for work as usual yesterday, only to be greeted by smoke and fire at her workplace. Sgt Woods of the Point Fortin Police Station is investigating.