Arson suspected in major airport equipment fire; PM Skerrit reacts

December 04, 2014 in Regional

FireCEO of the Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority, Benoit Bardouille, says arson is suspected in a fire which destroyed major airport equipment about two miles from the Douglas-Charles Airport.

New information reveals the damage is up to $2-million and a communication tower was destroyed.

Prime minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has added his voice to the incident, saying he, and everyone knows, who is behind the incident.

“I want Dominicans to answer, who do you think burnt down the tower at Captain Bruce?” he said. “Ladies and gentlemen, who do you think burnt down the $2-million Communications tower at Melville Hall airport, ladies and gentlemen?”

He said the damages amounts to $2-million.

“Some people burnt down the Communication Tower, cost some $2-million,” he said. “So, the government must now find $2-million to replace the Communications Tower …”

He said as prime minister, he now has to find the money to have the tower replaced.

“Two-million dollars that could build roads, buy fertilizer for the farmers, that could build homes for our poor people of Dominica, that could pay for scholarships for our students to study overseas and here in Dominica,” he stated. “Roosevelt Skerrit must now go and find $2-million because some people, pushed by some people burn down the communications tower and you like me know who the people are. And that is why, we shall go out to the polls on election day to ensure that the Labour Party wins a landslide victory to teach these people a lesson on election day.”

Bardouille said that a backup system is now in operation.

“Fortunately we have a backup system and we are operating as normal but we have suffered a major loss,” he said.

Earlier this week Bardouille said tight security will be enforced at the airport.

The police are now investigating the matter.