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LOCAL NEWS

Arson suspected in Registry Fire: Premises Vandalised

An early morning fire destroyed the office of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Road Town on Monday. The Registry is located in the old Government Administration Building on Main Street, in a building that houses the Post Office on the first floor.
Station Officer Tyrone Caddle said the BVI Fire and Rescue Services Department received a call via the 999 system at about 4am regarding a structural fire. He said four fire tenders, along with 17 fire officers, under the command of Chief Fire Officer Leando Stoutt, responded to the call.
“Upon arrival on the scene, we noticed smoke issuing from a window on the upper floor close to the J. R. O’Neal Drug Store,” he told the Island Sun. He said access was gained through the same window and the main door of the Registry.
It took approximately 45 minutes to bring the fire under control and just about three hours to completely extinguish the fire. The fire officers left the scene around 8:45 am after ensuring that all the hot spots were extinguished.
The offices of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages suffered extensive damage by fire, heat and smoke. Some documents, as well as office furniture and equipment, were also destroyed. The office appeared to have been vandalized, with signs as well of broken louvers, the iron grid removed and the steel safe cut.
“While I do not have an idea of the cost of the damage, it appears that it’s going to cost quite a tidy sum to replace the equipment, the steel safes, cabinets, the part of the roof, the carpets and so on that have been destroyed,” Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal told Reporters during his press conference Monday afternoon. “There is no doubt that whoever went in, went to do a job and in fact, they did it.”
He said fortunately, none of the births, deaths and marriage certificate records was damaged. “It is regrettable that people have to resort to that kind of action in a civilized society, but these things happen and what we can do is learn from them and try to make sure they do not happen and that the damage is minimal to the community,” Hon. O’Neal concluded.
The daily operation of the general post office was affected by the initial investigation as the smoke caused some discomfort to workers. But the post office, which did not suffer any damage, was opened for normal business by around 9 am.
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, His Excellency the Acting Governor Mr. Elton Georges announced that there has been no interruption in the services provided by the High Court Registry to the ongoing assizes. He however said that there would be some delays in certain services provided to the general public.
“I’d like to appeal to all members of the public and especially persons who might have been in and around Road Town around the area of the old Administration Building on the Waterfront during Sunday night Monday morning, to let the Police know anything that they may have seen that may have a bearing on the case,” the Acting Governor appealed.
He declared that this was an attack on the BVI government’s and its ability to carry out the business of the territory in a professional and competent manner.
The fire is under investigation by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the BVI Fire and Rescue Services Department and the government’s Electrical Inspection Unit.
Commissioner of Police Mr. Vernon Malone said Scenes of Crime detectives are hard at work collecting evidence relating to this incident. He said Major Crime detectives of the RVIPF have been detached from regular duties to focus on the investigation of this serious crime.
“You are aware that a most important case is being tried now in the territory and I would say that no exhibit relating to that case was interfered with,” he pointed out. He said the smoke set off an electrical system installed downstairs, which alerted Lewis & Associates. “It was that early warning system that kept the fire damage to a minimum.”

The Chief Fire Officer Mr. Leando Stoutt was also at the press conference and so too was High Court Registrar Graham Farinha. Mr. Farinha announced that the 13-15 employees have now relocated to the old LegCo office opposite Bobby’s Supermarket.
The office was expected to be up and running by Wednesday to receive and process applications. “However, with respect to searches of court files and so on, this may take additional time, because the court files are located still at the Registry and have some water damage which would need to be sorted out first.”
Damage assessment has not yet been completed.

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			LOCAL NEWS

			Arson suspected in Registry Fire: Premises Vandalised An early morning fire destroyed the office of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Road Town on Monday. The Registry is located in the old Government Administration Building on Main Street, in a building that houses the Post Office on the first floor. Station Officer Tyrone Caddle said the BVI Fire and Rescue Services Department received a call via the 999 system at about 4am regarding a structural fire. He said four fire tenders, along with 17 fire officers, under the command of Chief Fire Officer Leando Stoutt, responded to the call. “Upon arrival on the scene, we noticed smoke issuing from a window on the upper floor close to the J. R. O’Neal Drug Store,” he told the Island Sun. He said access was gained through the same window and the main door of the Registry. It took approximately 45 minutes to bring the fire under control and just about three hours to completely extinguish the fire. The fire officers left the scene around 8:45 am after ensuring that all the hot spots were extinguished. The offices of the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages suffered extensive damage by fire, heat and smoke. Some documents, as well as office furniture and equipment, were also destroyed. The office appeared to have been vandalized, with signs as well of broken louvers, the iron grid removed and the steel safe cut. “While I do not have an idea of the cost of the damage, it appears that it’s going to cost quite a tidy sum to replace the equipment, the steel safes, cabinets, the part of the roof, the carpets and so on that have been destroyed,” Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal told Reporters during his press conference Monday afternoon. “There is no doubt that whoever went in, went to do a job and in fact, they did it.” He said fortunately, none of the births, deaths and marriage certificate records was damaged. “It is regrettable that people have to resort to that kind of action in a civilized society, but these things happen and what we can do is learn from them and try to make sure they do not happen and that the damage is minimal to the community,” Hon. O’Neal concluded. The daily operation of the general post office was affected by the initial investigation as the smoke caused some discomfort to workers. But the post office, which did not suffer any damage, was opened for normal business by around 9 am. At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, His Excellency the Acting Governor Mr. Elton Georges announced that there has been no interruption in the services provided by the High Court Registry to the ongoing assizes. He however said that there would be some delays in certain services provided to the general public. “I’d like to appeal to all members of the public and especially persons who might have been in and around Road Town around the area of the old Administration Building on the Waterfront during Sunday night Monday morning, to let the Police know anything that they may have seen that may have a bearing on the case,” the Acting Governor appealed. He declared that this was an attack on the BVI government’s and its ability to carry out the business of the territory in a professional and competent manner. The fire is under investigation by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the BVI Fire and Rescue Services Department and the government’s Electrical Inspection Unit. Commissioner of Police Mr. Vernon Malone said Scenes of Crime detectives are hard at work collecting evidence relating to this incident. He said Major Crime detectives of the RVIPF have been detached from regular duties to focus on the investigation of this serious crime. “You are aware that a most important case is being tried now in the territory and I would say that no exhibit relating to that case was interfered with,” he pointed out. He said the smoke set off an electrical system installed downstairs, which alerted Lewis & Associates. “It was that early warning system that kept the fire damage to a minimum.” The Chief Fire Officer Mr. Leando Stoutt was also at the press conference and so too was High Court Registrar Graham Farinha. Mr. Farinha announced that the 13-15 employees have now relocated to the old LegCo office opposite Bobby’s Supermarket. The office was expected to be up and running by Wednesday to receive and process applications. “However, with respect to searches of court files and so on, this may take additional time, because the court files are located still at the Registry and have some water damage which would need to be sorted out first.” Damage assessment has not yet been completed.
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