BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – LINDSAY GRANT, Team Unity’s candidate for Constituency Four, claimed that he would be arrested and questioned in relation to the burning of the Venezuelan Embassy and attempted burning of the office that houses the Organisation of American States (OAS).
On Sunday (Jan. 5) members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services (Basseterre Station) responded to a report of a fire at the building that houses the office of the OAS on Horsford Road.
A few hours later, they responded to a second report of fire. This time, however, it was at Wigley Avenue, Fortlands.
Upon arrival at the scene, the unit discovered the building which housed the Venezuelan Embassy was completely engulfed in flames.
The officers sprang into action and after some effort the Basseterre Unit requested assistance which was provided by the Sandy Point unit.
Acting Fire Chief Everette O’Garro informed this publication that after a tiresome four-hour fight, the fire was eventually quenched, but the wooden and concrete one-storey structure and its contents were totally destroyed.
He said the cause of the fire was unknown but suspicious items found at the scene were brought to the attention of the CID and it has or would be undertaking investigations into the cause of the blaze.
He however informed that implements, which could be used to set a fire, were discovered at the building that houses the OAS office and the Fire Department has determined that it was the work of an arsonist.
Yesterday (Jan. 7) a police release stated that investigations into the matter revealed that the fire was “intentionally set”.
At a public meeting held on Monday evening (Jan. 6) at the Five Ways Junction and Central Street, Grant suggested that he might be targeted as a suspect in the incident.
“I understand the Prime Minister had some broadcast today. And in his broadcast he appears to be pointing his fingers at me that I burn down some place called the Venezuelan Embassy or something like that.
“I understand they are supposed to come for me tomorrow to question me. But I going tell them nobody put they hand on me tomorrow you know, because my wife don't want me in prison because I going get on stink.”
He then distanced himself from being involved in the incident.
“I don’t know where de place be. I don't want to know where the place be and me ain’t in that type of confusion. Only one thing I want to happen this year is that we get the rid of the man called Denzil Douglas and the whole government called the Labour Party.”
