Vendors hit hard by Oxford Mall fire

Scores of vendors at the Oxford Mall arcade in downtown Kingston are pondering their next move after a fire at the facility yesterday caused losses estimated to exceed $70 million.

One vendor, Charmaine McGlashan, said she spent close to $20 million to stock up for the Christmas shopping period and lost everything.

"I just cleared some stuff ... . I don't even get to do stocktaking (inventory) yet and I lost everything," McGlashan told The Gleaner.

"But I am a survivor. I am not going to be the one who is going to wallow and suffer. I just can't roll over and die, I will survive," added the mother of three.

Firefighters at the scene said another vendor reported that his wife recently spent a lot of money to purchase goods in China and that he, too, had lost everything.

One fire investigator told The Gleaner that he expects the losses to climb as more vendors come forward.

Up to late yesterday, the Jamaica Fire Brigade said there was no indication what caused the fire, which damaged at least 14 stalls in a section of the mall.

Firefighters say they were called to the Oxford Mall, located between Beckford Street and Chapel Lane, shortly after midday after receiving a call about a fire there.

The fire was put out by mid-afternoon and several persons, many claiming to be vendors, sifted through the rubble trying to salvage whatever they could.

Ggoods stolen

Despite the presence of police and firefighters, some vendors complained that looters were stealing their goods.

McGlashan noted that it was not the first December fire at the shopping arcade and urged the Government to ensure that the renovations are done properly this time.

"What we need them to do is come and fix the arcade properly because this cannot continue. It's a regular thing, it's like a cycle ... I don't know what is happening," she said.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com