No gas leak found - but 115 businesses affected by closure of Frederick Street

A 10-hour search yesterday for a suspected gas leak in an underground drain between Queen and Frederick Streets, Port-of-Spain, resulted in the temporary closure of 155 business places. Access from the corner of Queen and Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain,were completely shut off from members of the public from 1 am yesterday to midday.

Employees at the 115 business places who turned up for work yesterday were debarred from entering Frederick Street, as fire officers,  police, and officials from National Petroleum, the National Gas Company, Ministry of Energy, the Environmental Management Authority, and Cariri, carried out a series of tests to determine whether a gas leak existed. A number of gas testing equipment were used at various sections of Frederick Street, but no leak was found. A decision was then taken to flush the underground drainage system at Frederick Street. Workmen from the Port-of-Spain City Corporation were advised to remove garbage from clogged manholes. Officials of the National Gas Company, armed with special testing equipment lowered those testing equipments into manholes where they again carried out a check for gas leaks.

No gas leaks were discovered after several hours of testing, and fire officers went into action flushing the underground drains. Employees of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation told Newsday that they discovered a large build up of garbage in the underground drains. The garbage was placed in trucks and taken to the Beetham Dump. Fire officers suspected that the grime and rotting garbage  caused the stench which was detected on Thursday night. A decision was then taken to re-open Frederick Street at 12.10 pm. Those most affected by the closure of Frederick Street were restaurant owners at the food court in the three malls in downtown Port-of-Spain. At Town Centre Mall, the food court remained a ghost town as all the reastaurants including Calypso Cafe, Wonderful Chinese Food, Caesars, Lucky and Fresh Approach remained closed. Employees were sent home for the day since no meals could be prepared.

The owners of those establishments said that all the vegetables, meat and food which were prepared on Thursday for sale yesterday will be sold today. They added that profits were affected as a result of the street closure, but added that that they were grateful that no gas leaks were discovered. At Colsort Mall, the food court there also remained closed and at Golden Doors Plaza, the food court was also affected. D’ Bocas Restaurant at Chacon Street, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Royal Castle, Trini Flavour, Church’s Chicken, Panchos, nearby bakeries and even the doubles vendor at Chacon Street sold out all their food yesterday due to the closure of Frederick Street.

The owners of those food establishments were happy for the increased sales and added that they were forced to prepare larger quantities of food. President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association Gregory Aboud said yesterday that he toured the affected areas in company with Port-of-Spain Mayor Murchinson Brown. Aboud was high in praise of the Fire Department and the other agencies which responded quickly to the distress call on Thursday night. According to Aboud, Senior Fire Officer Bethelmy decided that the flushing of the underground drainage system be carried out regularly.