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It was the end of an era in March of this year when the Romac’s Superstore in downtown Belize City was destroyed by fire. While the Fire Department has said the fire was set, they haven’t indicated, and we presume they don’t know by whom. But one man who says he had nothing to do with is its owner Umesh Mahitani. He started reconstructing a new two storey superstore on July 1st but construction has suddenly come to a halt. An infuriated Mahitani says he has run out of money to complete construction because his insurance company has refused to pay him.

Umesh Mahitani, Romac’s Owner
“We stalled for a little while, we are just waiting.”

Keith Swift,
For what?

Umesh Mahitani,
“We are waiting for the insurance to pay us and then we complete the building.”

Keith Swift,
Have you been told why you haven’t been paid?

Umesh Mahitani,
“No, we are just not getting any response from the company. I just guess it has to be a waiting game, we have to wait until they are ready to pay us. When they are going to pay us I don’t know.”

Keith Swift,
So you been knocking on doors?

Umesh Mahitani,
“We’ve called them several times, I’ve sent emails several times and we just haven’t gotten any response as to when they are going to pay.”

Keith Swift,
Why is rebuilding important to you?

Umesh Mahitani,
“What else would I sit around and do? That is the passion, that is the family as well. We want to rebuild and continue life as we know it best.”

Keith Swift,
What are you plans for the place?

Umesh Mahitani,
“We want to build and then a lot of people have approached us to rent stores from us and there we go. People are not working and business is not happening. Downtown has suffered I think after the fire with the loss of so many stores at that time so we want to be right there to try and get it all back together.”

An Atlantic Insurance Representative told us they had no comment. Mahitani wouldn’t disclose how much the building and its stock was insured for but reports to us put it at just over 2 million dollars, which is less than its actual cost. That again is just what some reports say. Mahitani had hoped to complete reconstruction by July of next year.