A fire of unknown origin started at Juma’s Restaurant in Speightstown, St Peter, around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and quickly engulfed two other businesses.
Archer’s Hall Design Centre and 111 East beach bar also went up in smoke.
When a Nation team arrived on the scene, police officers had cordoned off the area and scores of onlookers were trying to get the best vantage point, while sheltering from a heavy downpour of rain.
Member of Parliament for the constituency of St Peter, Colin Jordan, was on the scene and described the occurrence as tragic.
“It is sad for us in St Peter because this is our town and it is a town we started to work on bringing it back to its former glory. It is really a tragedy and it adds to a bad year. It comes on the heels of the destruction of the balcony of the old Noel Roach building,” he said.
Jordan said Speightstown would not be the same for sometime and suggested that if the buildings were rebuilt, they should have elements of the original architecture.
Eighteen firefighters, under the command of Acting Chief Fire Officer Henderson Patrick, responded to the blaze in three tenders after an emergency call was made at 5.42 p.m. It was brought under control around 11 p.m.
Anyone who can assist with this investigation is asked to contact District ‘E’ Police Station at 419-1730, Police Emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477) or any police station. (SB/SAT/PR)
