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.