Four stalls located outside of the New Amsterdam Public Hospital were destroyed by fire during the wee hours of yesterday.
The owners suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
The fire reportedly started sometime around 3. 30 am and also partially damaged a bus shed at the location.
Bibi Khan, 55, of Canefield, East Canje, Berbice, the owner of one of the stalls, reported her losses to be over $200,000.
Her son, Rafeek Drugen, told Stabroek News yesterday that they had already spent over $80,000 to purchase materials to repair the stall “and we get more stuff to buy plus everything that she use to sell… destroy.”
According to Drugen, his mother has operated the stall for over 15 years now and is still in a state of shock as to what transpired. He noted that she is a mother of five and is the breadwinner of the children residing with her.
He said that guards attached to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital reported to him that after they noticed fire coming from the location they saw two men, who would usually roam the township, in front of the stalls.
“And the guards them say they come out and chase them and one run up the bridge and police catch the other one”, Drugen relayed.
Meanwhile, according to information gathered, the man was questioned and released yesterday afternoon pending an investigation.
