SHASTRI BOODAN
GML Contributor
Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath says investigators are considering the possibility that both insiders and outsiders were involved in a suspected arson attack at a Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) compound in Laventille on Saturday.
Millions of dollars in losses are feared after the blaze, which reportedly started at about 4.45 pm, engulfed the compound and continued into the night.
Asked by Guardian Media whether the incident could have been an inside job, Padarath said: “I am told that it might be a collaboration of both.”
He said investigators were examining possible involvement by people within and outside the company, including service providers.
“We have our own theory in terms of possible involvement of those who may be inside of the company, outside of the company, service providers, etc. But all of those things are suspicions right now that I know are receiving the attention of the authorities,” he said.
Padarath was speaking at Saturday’s Divali celebrations hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) at Camden Road, Couva.
He said TSTT’s copper had been put out to public tender, with some of the material stored at the Laventille facility.
“It is one of the greatest assets of TSTT and therefore the copper from TSTT was housed partially at that facility,” he said.
Padarath pointed to an increase in vandalism and copper theft targeting TSTT, suggesting that the potential sale of the metal could have been a motive for the suspected arson attack.
“The suspected arson attack was motivated by the sale of that copper,” he said, adding that other issues surrounding the facility could also have contributed to the incident.
He stressed, however, that suspicions about possible involvement by insiders and outsiders remained under investigation.
“The copper alone, I am advised, is worth tens of millions of dollars,” Padarath said, adding that security was present at the site.
He said he was in constant communication with the authorities and receiving regular updates.
“I am apprised minute by minute, ball by ball,” he said.
The minister intended to visit the scene on Saturday night, once the Fire Service had given the all-clear.
Describing the blaze as massive, Padarath said it represented a significant blow to TSTT’s assets. He also expressed concern about the fire spreading to Angostura, which he said had already been affected.
Padarath said the full extent of the losses would be determined after investigations and damage assessments were completed.
“We would only know that by tomorrow and the days preceding because of the fact that a number of storage issues arise there,” he said.
He explained that the damage could extend beyond the copper to include investments in renovation work at the facility and other stored materials.
Authorities would also need to consult Angostura after the fire was contained to assess the impact on the company, he added.
Padarath further revealed that police had recently informed him of arrests involving people suspected of stealing copper for shipment through Icacos and other locations.
“Those are some of the things that obviously we will be deeply concerned about. And security has already been notified,” he said.
Investigators are expected to establish the cause of the fire, assess the extent of the damage and determine whether anyone was involved in the suspected arson attack.
