KINGSTON, Jamaica — Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie says a clearer picture of the circumstances that led to the explosion that occurred at the RIU Hotel in Montego Bay last Thursday, will be known by the end of this week.

The ministry said it is not aware if the hotel has reopened for business although a preliminary report of the Jamaica Fire Brigade has given clearance, from a fire safety perspective, for operations to resume.

The minister noted that the Fire Brigade, which is leading the investigation into the incident, is continuing its probe and will present the final report shortly.

 “Additionally, the Jamaica Fire Brigade will be joined by a technical team comprised of Technical Services staff of the Ministry, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), the St James Municipal Corporation, the National Water Commission (NWC), the National Works Agency (NWA), the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) that will, as of tomorrow, undertake a full review of every aspect of the Hotel’s operations. This Team will be led by the Chief Executive Officer of the NWA, E GHunter, and I expect to receive a preliminary report of the findings by this Friday,” the ministry added.

McKenzie stressed that everything is being done to ensure that the personal safety and other human concerns emerging from the incident, are balanced with the need to drive continued economic growth through the country’s main foreign exchange earner.

“I especially want the employees at RIU to know that they are constantly in my thoughts, and I am sure they are experiencing all kinds of emotions. Even as they will want assurances about their source of income, one of their colleagues has died, and the others are suffering. I want to assure everyone that we are moving, but with due care, to discover what occurred and to facilitate any remedial actions that may be necessary,” said the minister.