By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
OFFICERS in George Town, Exuma, had no fire truck on hand to combat Wednesday’s fire at the settlement’s Straw Market, which completely destroyed the structure, fire officials said.
Fire Chief Superintendent Walter Evans told The Tribune yesterday that officials had to use a truck from the Bahamas Electricity Corporation as well as an airport crash/fire/rescue truck to combat the blaze.
Supt Evans said by the time those trucks arrived, the fire had already progressed to an “advanced stage,” leaving officials with no way to save the structure. Instead they worked to prevent the fire from spreading.
At one point, Supt Evans said, the fire posed a threat to the library, a primary school, and one of the hotels nearby. However, he confirmed no one was harmed.
The fire also wiped out straw vendors’ goods and came days before a regatta where vendors reportedly hoped to showcase some of their wares.
Last night, the government pledged to help the vendors. Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government would be “taking the necessary steps to assist the vendors in resuming their business operations as soon as is practically possible”.
Police were able to completely put out the fire, which started Wednesday night, in roughly three hours.
Supt Evans said at the time that it was still too early in the investigation to determine a motive behind the fire.
“At this point the investigation is ongoing to find out the cause of that blaze,” he said.
However, last night, it was revealed that an electrical malfunction is the suspected cause.
Free National Movement Leader Dr Hubert Minnis, in a statement yesterday, expressed remorse at the fire, which he said damaged the “livelihood and welfare of the many Bahamians who occupied the market”.
He called for the government to “move swiftly” in providing assistance to the displaced vendors.
“The straw market was an integral part of the city of George Town,” he said. “It was an historical land mark and one of the cultural hubs that galvanised the tourism infrastructure and the straw and craft industries on the island.
“The Free National Movement wishes to express its solidarity with the vendors during this difficult time and calls upon the government to move swiftly to offer relief to the vendors and to identify a suitable site where the vendors could continue their operations until a new market has been constructed.”
In 2001, a massive fire destroyed the Straw Market in New Providence. At the time, Dr Minnis said the FNM, which was the governing party, offered cash and Customs duty exemption to vendors to provide relief. He said the FNM also erected a tent to temporarily house the vendors “which placed them back in business so that they could care for their families.”
“The PLP does not have to reinvent, or create a new policy. The FNM has established the standard,” Dr Minnis said, adding: “The FNM therefore, looks forward to the government providing assistance to the vendors in a similar fashion, as well as ensuring a speedy conclusion into the investigation to determine the cause of the fire.”
A delegation, including Minister of Works Philip Davis and area MP Anthony Moss, travelled to Exuma to assess the damage yesterday.
Comments
themessenger 9 years, 8 months ago
My sympathy goes out to the straw vendors of Exuma who unlike their Nassau counterparts still make and sell beautiful authentic straw work instead of Chinese knock offs. The loss of their goods along with the loss of the beautiful fig tree at the center of George Town is the real tragedy not the pathetic shack to which they have been confined for all these years. The government should be roundly condemned for the lack of a functioning fire truck in Great Exuma, imagine what the consequences would have been should this fire have occurred at Sandals or February Point? The residents of Exuma voted for the current government and are now unfortunately reaping their just rewards from their caring, believe in Bahamians masters.
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
http://tribune242.com/users/photos/2015…
proudloudandfnm 9 years, 8 months ago
Unfortunately for Exuma there is only two years left in the PLP's term. We all know the PLP cannot get anything done in two years. Exuma will have to wait for the next government to get in office....
Cobalt 9 years, 8 months ago
And you think things will be any different under the FNM???? I think not.
These very same problems existed when the FNM was in office..... and nothing was done to rectify those problems. Just saying.
Sickened 9 years, 8 months ago
Agreed. It is hard to have even a slither of hope in any of our current politicians or political parties. The political machinery broke about 20 years ago and has hence been churning out too many defective products. And where do defective products end up??? In third world countries.
duppyVAT 9 years, 8 months ago
We must give Tony Moss some credit for his efforts to try and get a fire tuck for his constituency .......... but the reality is that there is too much neglect of the islands in many different sectors (education, health, potable water, airports, docks etc.)
The government needs to allocate $50-100 million of capital funds each year to totally rebuild the infrastructure of each Family Island ....... one at a time. That is called national planning for future development.
themessenger 9 years, 8 months ago
I can understand why a government can't meet the needs of every single island or constituency, However after all the lengths that successive governments have gone to to attract major investments to Exuma,ie Sandals, February Point etc, not to mention their own investments in the airport and George Town Hospital, never mind that the doors are still closed, you would think that a fire truck and ambulance would be a necessity rather that a convenience.
TalRussell 9 years, 8 months ago
Call them by their real names...OUT ISLANDS. Solid proof when you have a Fire Chief but no fire truck that local government is still dictated to out capital of Nassau Town. Both PM's and Minnis, should be ashamed show their faces come the 2017 General Elections. It is under their administrations that the natives have had to depend on the generosity of foreigners to even provide their volunteer firemen's and womens with their own fire helmets.
FNM_Retards 9 years, 8 months ago
Broke down ghetto shack caught fire, no surprise there. And now you are going to waste OUR money because they were too stupid to NOT burn it down? Probably left papers lying over some electric wires, or had worn extension cords, etc. the list goes on. Just your dumb ghetto people again, being dumb. And all those people there taking photos, not one of them could get off their lazy backside and put the fire out? Typical. Don't tell me you cant, I put fire out with PEE before. But usually I just nanny on it ...
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