KSAMC to assess damage at Pearnel Charles Arcade following fire

 

A team from the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is on Wednesday expected to conduct an assessment at the Pearnel Charles Arcade in downtown Kingston, following Monday's massive fire at the facility.  

 

Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby says the team will explore a suggestion by some vendors to create vending space at a section of the arcade that was not damaged by the fire and was underutilised.

 

Mr. Swaby made the disclosure on Tuesday at a meeting with the affected vendors at the KSAMC offices in downtown Kingston. 

 

"They have made several suggestions which I believe [are] worthy to look at. For example, there's a section that is not being utilised now, without a roof, and they are saying we could put something like a tarpaulin on it... and provide some lighting inside there, and those who can, pick up their pieces to start before the Christmas season kicks in," he explained. 

 

According to Mr. Swaby, a preliminary report from the Jamaica Fire Brigade has not determined the cause of the fire, which destroyed 95 shops at the arcade.

 

He added that the KSAMC is not able to remove the debris until the Jamaica Fire Brigade completes its investigation.

 

The Kingston Mayor said while the arcade was insured, the vendors' goods were not covered by the insurance agreement.   

 

"They have brought up questions [about] how could they come in on our insurance and insure their contents, and I've promise them that those are things that we can explore and put it to them, but they have to make sure that they are organised within their body, working for the betterment of not just themselves but for the city of Kingston," he said.