Fire destroys TSTT installation

SEVERAL million-dollar companies at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Couva, were left without vital telecommunications and internet links yesterday, after persons unknown vandalised and set fire to local telecommunications provider TSTT’s Pt Lisas service-cabinet.

Up to late yesterday, TSTT technicians were at the site of the burnt out cabinet on Pacific Avenue, Pt Lisas trying to carry out repairs and reestablish telephone and internet links to the more than 200 affected TSTT customers, most of whom are corporate customers. In addition to causing a temporary loss of service to TSTT customers, the vandalism and fire has left over $250,000 in damages. Sources within TSTT told Newsday, the service-cabinet is a metal box which stores equipment that hosts all connections for running telephone lines in a specific area. Hence the reason, when the fire destroyed the box, almost half of the Industrial Estate immediately lost telecommunications capabilities. The incident reportedly occurred around 5.30 am along Pacific Avenue, near the Desalination Plant in Point Lisas. Investigators found remnants of what is believed to be a scratch bomb near the burnt cabinet.

Police say they are not ruling out the possibility of the scratch bomb being linked to the fire. Some of the affected Pt Lisas companies included Dock’s Engineering, the National Gas Company, Safety Products, DS Maharaj, Northern Construction and Universal Foods. TSTT’s Central Area supervisor Hollis Mohan, told Newsday he expected the telephone service to have been restored by yesterday evening. “This is a straight case of vandalism. In my experience in the company, I have never seen any wires blow up by itself,” Mohan declared. A TSTT release issued yesterday, stated that the company deplored such acts and person(s) responsible, who continue to demonstrate complete disregard for the company, its property and customers.

Notwithstanding the extensive damage done to the equipment, the release stated, TSTT was working feverishly to restore service to affected customers by 4 pm yesterday. The release further apologised to all customers who had been affected by the incident and assured the public, that the company was working in conjunction with the police to minimise such disruptions. Within the past weeks, several TSTT cables have been cut by vandals who strip the cables to get at the copper which is melted and then sold. Another TSTT service-cabinet, this time in Trincity, was recently vandalised, TSTT sources told Newsday. The company is also involved in heated wage negotiations with its workers. Sgt Jackson of the Couva police is spearheading investigations into the Pt Lisas incident.