As the capital recovers from another devastating fire at it's heart, stories about what happened, what will happen and who is to blame are flourishing.
Stories include:Tears from a Kelly family member who remembers when the first Betty K ship was built. . . A claim that firefighters arrived with no water and that workers were "slow and unorganised" and others.
Tearful optimism after Betty K Blaze
Godfrey Kelly had tears in his eyes as he spoke yesterday about the business that has been in his family for decades. He was only 9 years old when the first Betty K ship was built. Now 82, he has no direct involvement in the operations of the shipping company. But yesterday he was on downtown Bay Street as firefighters battled a blaze that engulfed the Betty K shipping operation.
Millions lost in Valentine's Day fire
The buildings and properties involved in a devastating Valentine’s Day fire downtown were worth over $30 million by one estimate, and while the loss of historic buildings may be incalculable, the disaster may quicken the pace of the redevelopment of downtown Nassau. The fire, which broke out yesterday morning, devastated the offices of the Betty K Agencies and swept through several of the buildings on the north side of East Bay Street and the northern end of East Street.
Tourists assured fire was not a terrorist attack
TOURISTS were assured that yesterday's downtown fire was not a terrorist attack, even as cruise ship passengers were told to remain on their ships and staff at the Port Authority were evacuated, according to the police. Commander Patrick McNeil, head of the Port Department, said three ships were docked in the harbour when the fire broke out at the office and warehouse complex of Betty K Agencies Ltd.
Little effect on cruise sector from Bay Street Fire
The blazing fire that spread in the northeast area of Bay Street had a minimal effect on cruise ship activity, with a tourism executive saying none of the three vessels or 7,929 stopover visitors on Monday were hindered. Director of Cruise Development for the Ministry of Tourism Carla Stuart told Guardian Business yesterday it was business as usual for the cruise port, with only a few safety measures being taken because of the fire.
Claim that firefighters arrived 'with no water'
BETTY K shipyard employees, by-standers and a downtown shop owner criticised the actions of firefighters yesterday accusing the initial team of arriving on scene "with no water" and taking too long to contain the raging flames. However Assistant Commissioner of Police Hulan Hanna praised the efforts of the firemen, saying that while some mistakes were made, the officers performed "gallantly".
Fire workers say response was 'slow and unorganised'
FIRE WORKERS called for greater accountability with regard to fire management plans following the fire which consumed an entire block of Bay Street yesterday. Describing the response from the Fire Services to blaze, which began on the second floor of Betty K Agencies and spread to adjacent storefronts, as "slow and unorganised", firemen expressed their frustrations to The Tribune.
Old colonial buildings 'burn like tinder boxes'
OLD colonial buildings on Bay Street burn like "tinder boxes", although new buildings are required to adhere to strict fire regulations, said Earl Deveaux, Minister of Environment. "It is required in any new buildings that you have an evacuation system, a sprinkler system, and a fire prevention system built into the structure. That is a fundamental requirement," said Mr Deveaux.
Business owner criticizes firefighters' response time
Downtown business owner Jimmy Berdanis was emotional yesterday as he watched his clothing store and apartments go up in flames, insisting that firefighters did not do enough to stop the fire from spreading. Berdanis, who owns Venue Clothing Store and three apartments above it on East Bay Street, said his business could have been saved.
Bay Street is taken 'back to Ground Zero'
The fire that yesterday devastated an entire block takes Bay Street "back to Ground Zero", the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman told Tribune Business, describing it as a "setback" to both the downtown Nassau revitalisation efforts and economic recovery. Khaalis Rolle said the blaze that took out the Betty K shipping company's offices and warehouse, plus the entire block around them, had impacted an area of Bay Street - the junction with East Street and the immediate vicinity going east - that had just started to recover with new investment by both property and shop owners.
