Fire destroys business

BY RICHARD EDMONDSON

Jaswinder Singh hasn’t slept much since the bar of her Okaihau hotel burned down a year ago.

She doesn’t have the $250,000 she estimates it will cost to rebuild because a misunderstanding in her family meant the building was uninsured at the time of the fire.

"I’m depressed and can’t sleep with everything on my mind," she says.

Her efforts to make a living from a bottle store at the hotel have been thwarted by thieves and vandals who have broken into the hotel at nights to steal and damage property.

"Ever since the fire I’ve had trouble. People keep breaking into my property. I’ve made so many complaints to the police."

While police recently charged two men with theft, they have yet to arrest anyone in connection with the fire she believes was lit by a man she refused to sell alcohol to outside licence hours.

"Everybody in Okaihau knows who did it," says one of her brothers, who has moved to the hotel to support her.

Some people in the community have also complained that the burned out building on State Highway 1 is an eyesore.

"If it is an eyesore, why doesn’t the community come and help a little bit. Maybe they have good ideas about how we can reopen again," she says.

The former Aucklander has had a gutsful and put the hotel she bought as an investment six years ago up for sale.

"We get threatened every day. People think Indians are easy prey. We feel like packing up and moving away from here."

Police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett says police made inquiries at the time of the fire.

However, no one has been charged and the investigation remains open.

Far North District Council spokesman Rick McCall says staff are aware of community concerns about the appearance of the building.

However, they are also aware that Ms Singh has been the victim of what is believed to be an arson attack and is experiencing financial difficulties as a result.

They are trying to seek an outcome that is fair and reasonable rather than adopt a heavy-handed approach and will continue to do so while there remains an element of goodwill.

"A prosecution or legal enforcement at this point is not likely to achieve the results the community is seeking," he says.

- © Fairfax NZ News