Fire Chief Marlon Gentle said that the investigation “was still ongoing” and they have not established the cause.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud also said that no cause has been determined from the evidence the police force has collected so far, adding that it was only yesterday they commenced their investigation as the place was still smoking on Monday. “From the evidence we have collected and interviews we have done, no origin of the fire has been determined,” Persaud explained.
He said that the security guard on duty reported seeing flames first before hearing an explosion and according to him normally when an incendiary device is used to start a fire, the explosion would be heard before the flames are seen.
Residents told Stabroek News that they heard two thunderous explosions before the fire and when they rushed out they saw a car departing the scene. Flames, they said, quickly engulfed the old wooden building, which was said to be close to a hundred years old.
The three-storey building was owned by H.G Humphrey and Frandec Travel Services under the company H&F Inc and it housed four businesses—Frandec Travel Services, the LIAT office, Dagron Travel Service and Humphrey’s Hardware Store. Frandec, with a staff of 26 persons, was the largest employer while the other companies had about 11 persons employed among them.
Yesterday, Peter Fraser, a Director on the H&F Inc’s board, said that he was told by the Fire Chief that the service’s investigation would not be completed until weekend. He said that they are yet to determine if they will be re-building and the board will meet to make a decision. He revealed that some major repairs were done to the building over the years and most of the work was done to the ground and first floors. The entire roof of the building was also replaced.
In the meantime, insurance officials are also carrying out their investigation and a claims adjuster from Trinidad is here to assist in the process. Employees from the Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire Insurance Company were at the scene since early Monday morning.
Kathryn Eytle-McLean, Chief Executive Officer of Frandec and also Director on the board of H&F Inc, told Stabroek News that the company is up and running at its new location at 359B New Market Street, North Cummingsburg. She said all 26 of their employees still have a job and since most of their services are provided online, there has been no major hiccup.
Fraser said it is a bit more difficult for Humphrey’s Hardware Store—which had about four employees—since everything has been destroyed. However, he said the employees would be paid while the company deliberates on the next move. “Our staff is our major asset,” Fraser said.
The owners of the building had been in a dispute with the owner of the building next door on Main Street.
That building was constructed very close to theirs, prompting complaints. The owners and the owner of the building under construction are in court and there has been no further construction work for months since litigation began.
