Damaged kitchen facilities in the building after the fire.

ARSON is believed to be the cause of a fire that destroyed a building on East Sunrise Highway that housed the constituency office of East Grand Bahama MP Peter Turnquest as well as a small school.

The fire occurred sometime shortly after 9pm on Friday. The building, owned by Mr. Turnquest, also housed the Hampton Academy, which was extensively damaged.

No one was in the building at the time of the blaze, and police have not yet determined the cause of the fire as investigations are still continuing into the matter.

Inspector Terecita Pinder said there was no major damage to Mr. Turnquest’s constituency office.

When contacted on Sunday, Mr. Turnquest told The Tribune that there was some smoke and water damage to his office. He believes that the fire was an act of arson.

“The building was broken into and three separate fires were set in different parts of the building,” he said.

Mr. Turnquest said the building was insured, but he is upset about the damage to the school.

Asked whether he felt it could have been a personal attack on him, he said: “We have no evidence at the moment and I don’t want to speculate.

“I just feel bad for the school; they obviously have been set back because of this and the children are now disadvantaged. It is really unfortunate for the kids.”

“As far as motivating someone to do this, I just think this was an act of vandalism and burglary. It is hard to say; I don’t think it was a personal attack. I have no evidence or reason to believe that.”

Although he did not estimate the damage, Mr. Turnquest said the building would have to be gutted and renovated.

In the meantime, he said that he would be looking for alternative accommodations for his constituency office.

“When we are able to arrange something, I would be informing my constituents,” he said.

By DENISE MAYCOCK | Tribune Freeport Reporter

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