Turks and Caicos, March 9, 2017 – Grand Turk -Some 80 to 90% of what was in the historic, Victoria Public Library is gone; gobbled up in that early morning fire today at the Grand Turk public library.
Magnetic Media just moments ago spoke to former Chief Minister, Hon. Derek Taylor, who said he has seen the damage at the burned building and believes that almost everything work anything is gone. Taylor, like so many others lamenting on the fire, is saddened about the incident which he says cast a dark cloud over the Capital today.
“When I got the call I was in shock. That someone would – because from all accounts it seems to be arson – that someone would get rid of our institution, a building that has been here for ages and that has served the total community. Not only the school children.”
Mr. Taylor explained that gifts to the library from the United States, Canada, the U< and from around the Caribbean were consumed by the blaze, despite valiant attempts by people darting into the burning building to save the twelve decades of books and memorabilia. Hon Taylor said shelves which had been there from the library was opened, books, research papers, desks and so much more are all gone and only a art of the building remains now after what is strongly suspected to be arson.
“The library was built with curry limestone and next to the library, I think it can be salvaged because it still had the roof on it when I left earlier this morning. The main library, the roof has been destroyed and what has been salvaged in terms of books, pamphlets and that sort of thing is what we are trying to get stored. We are asking those who would have plastic containers to bring them so that we can store the books elsewhere.” It was shared that the books and other items salvaged are dry.
Grand Turk has no domestic fire unit and has not had one for over a decade now. Despite promises to correct the situation on the island which sees the largest traffic of people in the country due to the Grand Turk Cruise Center, there remains no remedy. Police confirm that the fire was reported around 4:41 am but as late as 8aam, there was still a fire at the small iconic building which is located on Duke Street.
Hon Taylor said he believes the process is prolonged when it comes to fire response due to a number of factors including: where the fire fighters have to come from, the permissions the airport fire crew has to receive and that tit is not a unit dedicated to fighting domestic fires. “We are dealing with fire fighters who are stationed at the airport and I take it that they have to seek permission from their supervisors and what have you in order to come to town. I think that is the normal procedure.”
In January 2016, the country was horrified by a fire, intentionally set at HJ Robinson High which consumed a newly constructed block including the school’s computer lab. It is a crime yet solved and a set-back of $2 million for the country. Months later, in November, one of the homes recently completed by the EU Hurricane Ike funding was destroyed by fire. It was also reported that the fire of Beatrice Gardiner’s home in Grand Turk, was intentionally set.
The Victoria Public Library saw construction start in 1887 and was opened in 1889, and was dedicated to Queen Victoria on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee.
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