Oropune homes for Laventille fire victims

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar comforts residents of the HDC building at Trou Macaque, Laventille

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar visited the scene of Tuesday's fire at Trou Macaque, Laventille, hours after the blaze killed four people and made scores of others homeless.

She presented keys to 20 families displaced by the fire for homes at Oropune. She said the government would allow them to live there at no cost for the first three months.

Persad-Bissessar said the members of cabinet discussed the tragedy. "It is a most tragic incident on the eve of Christmas and our hearts hurt," she said.

“We do not know the work of the Lord and sometimes out of evil cometh good,” she added as she pledged to do all that is possible to ensure that a similar tragedy doesn't ever happen again. 

There was no fire escape in the government building. She promised that every government high rise building would get a fire escape.

“To the residents and those who have perished in this great tragedy we extend our condolences,” she added. 

She also thanked all who responded including. Several MPs, including Laventille West representative, Nileung Hypolite, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and Opposition MPs Donna Cox, Dr Amery Browne and Alicia Hospedales.

National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy, Minister of the People and Social Development Glenn Ramadharsingh and Gender, Youth and Child Development Minister Verna St Rose-Greaves, also visited the scene.