By the Caribbean Journal staff

Barbadian foreign arson investigator Roderick Walcott is leading a two-person team in Antigua examining the recent fire at the LIAT hangar, according to National Security Minister Dr Errol Cort.

Walcott arrived in Antigua Tuesday and has already met with Antiguan investigators.

“Given the nature of the fire, and, more particularly, given the magnitude of what transpired there, we recognize that we need some additional assistance to complement what the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has been doing in terms of investigation,” Cort said.

The fire, which occurred at the LIAT hangar after 10 PM on June 10, destroyed one of the company’s Dash 8-300 aircraft, a maintenance hangar and two offices.

It caused almost $13 million in damages, according to the company.

A report in the Antigua Observer alleged that a plugged-in golf cart led to the fire; LIAT CEO Brian Challenger said the investigation was continuing and the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

He said it was “extremely unfortunate for speculative reasons to be highlighted in this manner.”