Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 12, 2011 News
Police are following leads that suggest that a fire that destroyed a two-storey building at Lot 342 Cummings Street shortly after 15:20 hrs yesterday was deliberately set.
The fire started in the top flat shortly after Ingrid Grant, the caretaker, had left the premises. It consumed the wooden building within minutes.
Residents praised firefighters for preventing the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings.
The destroyed property belongs to Elsa Phillips, an overseas-based Guyanese, and was unoccupied when the blaze started. She has been notified about her misfortune.
Ingrid Grant said that she had just cleaned the premises and had gone to a nearby internet cafe to make a call when she saw several people running. She then went outside and saw that the building was on fire.
A tearful Ms. Grant said that the premises contained flat-screen television sets, furniture, two refrigerators, and several barrels containing other valuables.
She said that nothing was saved.
According to the caretaker, a generator was on the premises but it was off at the time of the fire. She was later taken to the Alberttown Police Station to give a statement.
Kaieteur News understands that police have received reports which suggest that the blaze was deliberately set.
Television journalist, Francis Quamina Farrier, who lives near to the burnt building, said that he became aware that something was amiss around 15:20 hrs when he smelt smoke, and on looking outside, observed that the top flat was in flames.
Mr. Farrier said that he contacted the Guyana Fire Service, which arrived within ten minutes, but by then the building was fully ablaze.
Bharat Persaud, whose business, Baron Foods Ltd (Guyana), is located to the east of the gutted building, said that a worker was cleaning at the back of his premises when he saw the flames.
Mr. Persaud said that his employees attempted to douse the flames with water from a hose in his yard but their efforts were futile.
He then dialled 911 and the firefighters, who he said were “very organised,” arrived shortly after and prevented the fire from getting out of control.
Winsley Josiah, a nephew of the property owner, told Kaieteur News that his overseas-based aunt, Elsa Phillips, had occupied the building for some 20 years.
He was at work when the blaze started and it was his aunt who called from overseas to inform him about the fire.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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