KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – There is “no evidence to suggest foul play” in the fire at the Buccament Bay resort last weekend, a lawyer for the company has told I-Witness News.
Simon Terry, Harlequin Property’s U.K.-based solicitor, said in an email statement that the blaze was a minor one in an unoccupied section of the resort and did not disrupt operations there. (Read full statement below)
He said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
I-Witness News on Wednesday published a photograph submitted by a reader that shows resort employees using buckets and garden hoses to fight the fire.
“… it has to be remembered that this picture was taken very shortly after the alarm was raised and shows some quick thinking staff members using their initiative prior to the arrival of more sophisticated equipment,” Terry said.
However, the photographer did not give an indication of how soon after the blaze started that the photograph was taken.
“As it happens, the fire was so minor that it was brought under control very quickly without the need for bespoke fire fighting equipment,” he further said, adding that Harlequin “would like to publically praise the quick thinking members of staff who dealt with this minor incident quickly and decisively”.
Terry, however, did not respond on the record to questions about the resort’s emergency evacuation protocols and calls to radio programmes that some workers at the resort were not receiving their wages and salaries on time.
I-Witness News questions to Harlequin Property regarding the fire at Buccament Bay Resort:
- What was the cause of the fire?
- What was the extent of the damage?
- How, if in any way, were operations at the resort affected?
- A photo suggests that buckets of water and garden hoses were used to fight the fire. Is this so? Further, what fire-fighting mechanisms are installed at the resort? Can you please briefly outline the resort’s evacuation protocols in the event of fire or other similar developments?
- Callers to several radio programmes in St. Vincent say that some workers at the resort have not been receiving their wages and salaries on time. Is this so. If yes, why?
Full statement by Simon Terry, company solicitor for Harlequin Property on the fire at Buccament Bay Resort in St. Vincent last weekend:
There was a minor fire in one of the villas at Buccament Bay last weekend. The villa itself is one which is currently being used for storage, away from the occupied properties and there was no significant damage either to the villa or its contents. The cause of the fire is being investigated but there is no evidence to suggest foul play. The photograph already published shows buckets of water and hoses being used to fight the fire but it has to be remembered that this picture was taken very shortly after the alarm was raised and shows some quick thinking staff members using their initiative prior to the arrival of more sophisticated equipment. As it happens, the fire was so minor that it was brought under control very quickly without the need for bespoke fire fighting equipment. The fire presented no risk to the hotel or its guests and caused no disruption to the operation whatsoever. Harlequin would like to publically praise the quick thinking members of staff who dealt with this minor incident quickly and decisively.
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