Recovery Efforts Underway After Deadly Prince Street Fire
Help is underway for residents, families, and businesses affected by the devastating fire that swept through the upper floor of the Coelho Building on Prince Street, Port of Spain, on June 12th.
The blaze claimed the lives of two residents and left several others displaced, prompting a community-wide response to support those in need.
With estimated damages of nearly $4 million, Love Party Political Leader Lennox Smith announced plans to meet on Thursday with Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Phillip Alexander, to fast-track recovery efforts.
« We have agreed to meet on Thursday, where we will put a comprehensive initiative or plan in place in order to treat with all aspects because you know it’s about the business community as well, it is about the employees that we connected to the five businesses that would’ve been negatively affected and then, of course, those persons who would’ve lost their shelter as a consequence of that fire. »
Deputy Leader Dada Gabriel highlighted the impact the fire will have on surrounding businesses and their employees.
« It’s a first time hurt for everything and to see businesses in Port of Spain drop to a low level of nearly zero per cent. So having a fire now, Singh Mini Mart just bring in goods of over a hundred and something thousand to see it now, water-soaked, you know how fire goes, so it’s hurtful to pick up this thing now to start back all over when employees have to get paid, plus it has a food business next to him lose nearly everything too, so it’s really hurtful. »
