The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

ALMOST a year after a fire destroyed six stalls at Arawak Cay, most affected vendors have yet to rebuild as authorities work to introduce safer construction standards to prevent a similar incident.

Members of the media were taken on a tour of the affected stalls yesterday, where vendors provided updates on rebuilding efforts following the November 2025 fire.

Arawak Cay Conch, Fish, Vegetable and Food Vendors Association president Lillian Laramore-Smith said vendors had not given up hope and planned to return bigger and better than before.

She said she expected the government to make an announcement soon that could benefit both the fire victims and other vendors at the popular Fish Fry.

“I want to tell you this fire has opened up many doors, and we are sitting at negotiating tables to improve and have an investment in it to make sure that these things doesn't happen,” Mrs Laramore-Smith said.

“In reference to the insurance, there's no individual insurance, but we can do the group insurance. We are considering something, and we're working on that.” 

November 16 will mark a year since the fire tore through Arawak Cay, destroying six stalls and severely damaging two others.

Eddie Dormeus, owner of Brother Eddie's Kitchen, is among the two vendors who have rebuilt their businesses without government assistance. The other is vendor, Rodney Russell.

Mr Dormeus spent more than $100,000 rebuilding his business and was forced to restart operations under difficult circumstances.

He told reporters yesterday that he initially operated from two wooden pallets while tractors and trucks cleared debris from his property. 

He subsequently moved his operations into two vans before beginning construction of a small building at the rear of the property.

“I knew we had to start from somewhere, and I just had to take whatever I had to do to make it work,” he said.

Mr Dormeus acknowledged that documentation issues delayed rebuilding efforts..

He described the emotional toll of the fire, saying the experience was something he would not wish on anyone.

“I don’t even want it for my worst enemy,” he said. “When you in that crisis, you just can’t explain what’s going on. That is indescribable”

“I lost everything in that, everything I lost in that, so I had to rebuild from the ground straight up.”

Despite the financial losses, Mr Dormeus said he was determined to maintain his customer base, which he credited with helping his business survive.

“That's the one thing I never lost. I wasn't worried about the building. I said you don't want to focus on the building - you want to focus on your customer base. And that's why I started from the pallet, then I moved in my van, and I'm on this right now.” 

Mrs Laramore-Smith praised Mr Dormeus’ efforts, saying his outdoor setup reminded her of the original Fish Fry, when customers enjoyed meals in the open air.

Meanwhile, association second vice-president Kevin Russell said the fire had highlighted the need for improved infrastructure, stronger safety standards and greater investment in Arawak Cay.

“It's away to rebuild that this won't happen again ao the logistics of that is being worked out,” he said. “Each stall was right next to one another. So, I know one of the things now the requirement is not to build within a certain radius of of one another.”

Mr Russell noted that the Fish Fry originally operated as a fish market, with stalls constructed close to one another. He said spacing requirements were now among the considerations for rebuilding.

He also credited the Fire Department with helping vendors strengthen safety measures, including requiring them to install more modern fire extinguishers.

He added that the updated requirements would form part of the conditions operators must meet when new licences are issued.

Mrs Laramore-Smith said the association was also exploring group insurance arrangements for vendors, noting that individual insurance coverage was not currently in place.

She said the fire had opened the door to discussions about long-term improvements and investment to prevent similar incidents.

The association has 25 members and about seven stalls outside the membership. Ron Butterfield of Big Boys Cafe is communicating with association representatives about joining.

“I've been communicating with the various different persons who taking over membership, and since the fire, it was a holdup, and the government has been dragging their foot on a lot of things here to make one invest a little bit more.

“I hope they understand the investment we, the vendors, are making here to really hold our hands and walk with us to the next level,” Mr Butterfield said. 

Mr Butterfield said Big Boys Cafeteria, located on Robinson Road, is developing another location at Arawak Cay. He took over the business after his brother died almost two years ago.

He said renovations were underway to bring the property up to standard, while a partnership with Carnival Cruise Line had introduced a popular boat tour for visitors. 

Mr Butterfield added that the business would continue offering menu services to tourists and expressed optimism about Arawak Cay’s future, citing significant investment and hopes for stronger government collaboration.

“Modernisation here in Arawak Cay is really keeping up with the world because the world is modernising day after day. People expect you to grow with time,” he said.

“Out here at Arawak Cay is different levels of lifestyle that exist here, and we want to lead the way. So we don't want you to come here being a tourist from somewhere else and say that ‘Hey, well they need to upgrade’.”