Byron McDaniel, Freelance WriterWALDERSTON, Manchester: FIRE BELIEVED to be the work of arsonists destroyed a well-stocked tavern and cook shop in Cobla Square, Manchester, in the wee hours last Thursday.
When The Gleaner visited the scene on Thursday, the concrete, zinc and timber structure was completely razed and the Christiana Fire Brigade had completed cooling-down operations. A group of persons present, was condemning what they said was a malicious act against the operator.
"Dem light some posters on the door 'bout one month ago and now dem come back and burn it down," said Damion Taylor, an assistant of the operator. He said that at about 3:00 a.m. passers-by saw fire coming from the building and made an alarm.
Carlene Evans, the operator, was not available for comment. The stock and appliances valued $500,000, said Mr. Taylor.
The premises, which once housed the Cobla Post Office, was destroyed by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. It was refurbished and rented about three years ago to Ms. Evans, who did a thriving business operating the bar and cook shop.
The owner of the premises, Joyce Brown, lives abroad, but a spokesman for the caretaker, Deon Wilson, said that the value of the destroyed premises is $1.5 million. The premises was not insured, he said.
A spokesman for the fire brigade said the cause of the fire is still undetermined.
