172 / 494
171
8.7.
On his return to Tivoli Gardens about a week after being released
from the National Arena, Mr. McLeod said that his game shop was completely
burnt out and he had lost all of his possessions. He received no compensation
but estimated his loss of earnings at $60,000.00 per month.
FINDINGS
8.8.
There is no evidence that the fire which destroyed
Mr. McLeod’s business was started by the security forces. Indeed,
under cross-examination by Senator Alexander Williams, Mr. McLeod
agreed that his video game shop started to burn when electricity poles
and wires fell in the area so that the loss of the game shop may have
been accidental.
8.9.
Since he received no compensation, we recommend that
there should be further investigation into his pecuniary loss.
(ii)
Troy Palmer
8.10.
Mr. Palmer is a chef who lived at #2 Ebenezer Lane, Bustamante
Highway on the second floor. He owned a shop located on the ground floor at
#2 Ebenezer Lane and another shop “across the road on Bustamante Highway”.
About 5.00 p.m. on 24 May, he was at home. He looked out and saw soldiers on
the roof of the Coronation Market and police officers on the ground in Tivoli
Gardens firing. He said that shots from the direction of the Market knocked out
a window in his house and destroyed a fan and television set. He was hiding
behind a concrete column in his house at that time.
8.11.
Mr. Palmer said that he witnessed two soldiers go from the church
yard to his shop on Bustamante Highway and one of them “lick off the lock”.
They entered the shop and drank bottles of water which he had in stock. A
soldier came upstairs and took him to Building #40 where there were about