Fire guts St Thomas factory

Remains from the fire at Orion Sales, Yallahs, St. Thomas, yesterday. -Michael Sloley photo

Deon Green, Freelance Writer

MORANT BAY:

THE ORION Sales factory in Yallahs, St. Thomas, which produces cosmetics for local and overseas markets, suffered extensive damage in a fire just after midnight yesterday.

The fire left millions of dollars in damage and some 30 workers unemployed.

Yesterday burnt out metal bars stood where two floors of chemical and machinery once were. Managing director of the company, Peter Cleare, told The Gleaner, "This building (which manufactures products for Revlon) is finished, but we have to put our thinking caps on and come up with something to restart the factory."

Operations manager, Gordon Lawrence, was optimistic about future plans. "Our intention is to get another location sooner than later, as we have been here for over 35 years and this plant is significant to the country's economy."

At the same time, Member of Parliament, Anthony Hylton, who visited the facility, said the major concern at this time, was the impact on workers, especially with the school year about to begin. He said that based on discussions with the company's management, two possible locations would be examined to resume operation as quickly as possible.

"We will also meet with the Factories Corporation and the workers to work out possible arrangements to ensure a smooth resumption, as it relates to normality," he said.

Workers peering through burnt out windows expressed concerns about the possibility of future employment.

Monica Blackburn, who has been with the company for over eleven years, said times were difficult, but she was hopeful that something positive would happen. For Nadine Loague, who has been with the company for over 13 years and has two children and a husband, the absence of her income will have great consequences on her family. "One hand caan clap. Hopefully, I will get a job soon."

The origin of the fire remains unknown. The blaze was put out by units from the Morant Bay, Yallahs and Rollington Town fire stations.

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