Cops search for five ‘Drag Mall’ vendors

Five booth operators from the People’s Mall at Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, hold the key to the cause of the multi-million dollar blaze on Saturday. Police and fire prevention officers are expected to interview the five owners, whose businesses were located on the north western side of the People’s Mall, prior to Saturday’s dollar fire. Yesterday, fire prevention officer Peter Baptiste, who led a team of forensic experts on the scene, identified the area where the five booths were located and where the fire started on Saturday.

The investigators are hoping to find out from the five what transpired on Saturday, and what type of activities took place before the fire started. According to Baptiste, they have already sought the assistance of a few booth operators who have been helping them identify the people who can assist in the probe. He revealed that forensic experts, using a special piece of equipment, were able to identify the area — based on the cracks in the earth, the debris and other types of material found in the area — where the fire started.

Baptiste added that parts of the area were also excavated around 3 pm yesterday and this led to several clues being unearthed. He said that the pattern of burning at the site also gave the forensic experts the clues they needed. They will return to the site early today to carry out a reconstruction of the scene and further excavation. If the five booth operators are contacted and interviewed, it could assist in finding out how the fire started. Sources revealed that from all indications, the fire was maliciously set.

The forensic report will determine exactly what caused the blaze. Police investigators told Newsday that anyone who may have witnessed anything relating to the fire, should call 800-TIPS. They said that persons need not identify themselves. The Drag Mall housed 140 booths. Police officers told Newsday that illegal activities took place there on a daily and nightly basis. They added that drug pushing, the sale of illegal weapons and other illegal activities took place at the mall.