Fire, not bombings hit Capital

THERE were no bombings in the Capital City this weekend, however, fire of an unknown origin hit a commercial building on Charlotte Street yesterday and left in its fiery wake, losses estimated at over $5million and 64 persons without a job. The fire completely destroyed the third floor of a three-storey building. That floor housed supplies and goods belonging to Joy’s Variety Store. The second floor housed the warehouse of By-Way Store. This floor suffered major water damage. The ground floor which houses both variety stores also suffered major water damaged.

According to reports around 11.10 am, Ayanna Trotman, an employee of By-Way received a call that fire was seen coming from the top floor. She immediately contacted the Fire Services and other employees of the store. The area was quickly cordoned off as firemen who arrived on the scene swung into action. Although the officers were hampered by several water problems they quickly contained the blaze and went about ensuring that the fire did not spread to nearby buildings one of which was the wooden building next to the fire which houses Wing Sing and Co. Firemen also checked surrounding buildings for signs of smoke which would indicate fire.

Special Branch police and officers from the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) mingled with the crowd of curious onlookers. Newsday learnt that the SAUTT and Special Branch officers were investigating the possibility that the fire was started by a bomb explosion. These specialised officers were present given the fact of the time and date of three previous bomb blasts over the last three months in Port-of-Spain, made it possible that a fourth bomb blast would have occurred this weekend. However, investigations, while not as yet identifying the cause of the blaze, have ruled out a bomb blast as the cause.

“All my Christmas and plans for the season have gone up in smoke,” By-Way employee Yvette Gonzales said. Owner of By-Way store Geoff Jeffers is currently out  of the country where he is reportedly purchasing more stock for his business. An angry Joy Maharaj, owner of Joy’s Variety Store, yesterday confronted Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchison Brown who arrived on the scene. Maharaj claimed she lost over $2.5million in Christmas stocks which she only received last Friday. She angrily questioned the Mayor on fire safety measures put in place since the last fire in July which cost the City millions of dollars. She also raised the issue of non-functioning but newly painted fire-hydrants.