Robbers burn clothing store in Barbados
. . . Guyanese, baby among six dead
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – A Barbados-based Guyanese woman and a baby are reported to be among six people who perished when a clothing store in the normally peaceful capital in that Caribbean island was set alight by robbers shortly before 19:00 h on Friday.

Described as Barbados’ worst human tragedy, the act was reportedly committed by two men as they left the clothing store owned by a Guyanese woman and located in Tudor Street where they stormed and demanded money.

The men, as they were escaping, tossed an incendiary device that set the building on fire, police spokesman David Welch was reported as saying in an Associated Press report.

Three of the victims, the Guyanese included, were employees at the Campus Trendz Boutique, and the other were customers, Welch said, adding “They apparently became trapped when they ran to the back of the store to escape the fire.”

One of the dead was confirmed to be Shanna Griffith, 18, an employee and according to a Barbados Nation report, she reportedly died in an ambulance en route to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The report said a female supervisor also had to be treated on the scene for several cutlass wounds, believed to have been inflicted by one of the robbers.

Welch described the incident as “a national tragedy…We do not have this sort of incident.”

He noted that Police had up to yesterday afternoon been unable to complete a search of the building as parts of it were still burning, but said it was unlikely more victims will be found.

“We’re still doing a search because there’s still immense heat coming from the ruins,” he said.

Police have a description of the two attackers, but no one has been arrested.
Fire officer Rodney Best said firefighters were trying to determine what sort of device was used to set the blaze at the store which catered to shoppers on a budget.

The newspaper article said there was anger and consternation yesterday for the families of the six people who perished in the fire and that the tragedy has triggered fresh calls from members of the public for the resumption of hanging in Barbados.

It has also prompted renewed appeals for strict adherence to building codes.

But, Barbados Attorney General, Freundel Stuart is reported as saying the issue of the resumption of hanging would require careful review.