As investigations continue into the fire which destroyed a significant portion of the business area of Mahdia, residents there are looking forward to plans by the authority to rebuild.
During a visit to the Region 8 area, residents there told this newspaper that while the community has been stunned by the recent fire which left dozens homeless, plans by the authorities to construct a new market on the site of the destroyed section of Central Mahdia known as the ‘Arcade’, will be welcomed. Many of the homeless families have found accommodation in Mahdia or returned to the coast.
Regional Chairman Senor Bell told this newspaper during an interview on Saturday that while investigations into the incident continue, the administration plans to erect stalls over the affected area when it is cleaned. He said that such plans had been on the cards over the years but they never materialized because of lack of support. He said that many persons were reluctant to remodel their respective businesses.
It was noted by some that the destroyed area was a spot for the trading of illegal drugs.
Bell noted that most of the businesses were owned by persons who reside on the coastland and according to him measures will be put in place to ensure those affected will be given first preference when the infrastructure plans are put into operation.
Those affected told this newspaper that the fire, which has seen many lose millions, has disrupted their lives severely but according to them, as the community depends on mining, if the plans by the authorities materialize, their respective businesses would be able to function.
One man, who operated a clothing store, told Stabroek News that the proposed plans by the regional administration would make the community ‘more organised’ since he noted, the businesses and homes in the business section of the community were built close to each other. Another resident noted that persons lived in more than 90% of the 20-odd businesses which once stood on the site.
Bell told this newspaper on Friday that the aforementioned was an issue which was discussed with the residents. He said that the fire was a wake–up call to the community and according to him, while there had been calls for the authorities to erect a fire station in the area, the region needed the support of the businessmen in the community, adding that they had the resources to assist in the construction of a fire response facility.
Meanwhile, relief in the form of food hampers and other articles have begun to arrive in the community, and residents in the area told this newspaper yesterday that while they had not received any such assistance they were looking forward to receiving same within the next few days. This newspaper understands that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) had dispatched some 10,000 food hampers to the community over the past two days.
The mining community faced a harsh reality on Thursday evening when a fire, said to be electrical in origin, reduced the Arcade to rubble, leaving more than 100 persons homeless. Persons in the community told this newspaper that the fire may have been deliberately set, after a relationship between a businessman in the area and his partner went sour. Fire officials were in the area over the weekend undertaking investigations.
