PHOTO: Dangerous fire
A fire on a Jamaica Public Service Company utility pole, triggered reportedly by a blown transformer, brought an abrupt end to yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives in Gordon House shortly after 5:00 pm. The blowout caused a brief blackout inside the building. However, the standby plant reactivated the lights within minutes. But, immediately afterwards, secruity personnel outside the building informed parliamentarians and staff that the transformer was on fire. A press conference which was being arranged by the Opposition to respond to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s statement on the suspension of auxiliary fees in secondary schools was immediately called off. The fire was burning up to half an hour after it started, despite the fact that the fire brigade was informed and security personnel insisting that a fire engine was on Mark Lane where the transformer was burning. (Photo: JIS)