WHILE SYMPATHISING with vendors who lost goods during the latest Pearnel Charles Arcade fire, Kingston Mayor Angela Brown Burke said there was not much the the city council could do.

"Unfortunately, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) is not in a position to deal with reimbursement," she said frankly. Damage was estimated at J$17 million. The mayor noted that the KSAC has been talking with the 43 vendors affected, but could not insure goods that do not belong to the council. She noted that individuals did not buy into previous insurance schemes, so she urged vendors to insure their goods now.

"The vendors are going to have to find a way to come together to take up the kind of group insurance that will assist them in recovering even a portion of their (costs) when they are lost in this way."

A cause for the fire, which occurred late last month, is also yet to be determined.

"The scene was contaminated by persons who insisted on going in before they were given permission," said Brown Burke. She said the council would also be checking the various material that increase the fire risk at markets as they try to reduce these occurrences.