School, NGO suffer damage as…
MAJOR disaster was averted early yesterday morning when fire, suspected to have been the result of arson, damaged a building at Lot 109 ‘E’ Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown. Proprietor/Programme Manager of the private school Gamaliel Academy, Mr. Bevon Currie, said the edifice also houses the office of Guyana Volunteer Consultancy (GVC).
He told the Guyana Chronicle that, about 06:30 hrs, a man saw thick smoke emanating from Creole Kitchen, next door, when he showed up for work there and he started a bucket brigade before the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) arrived on the scene and extinguished the blaze.
Currie said the flames originated from under the building and damaged the eastern wall of the two-storey wooden structure, in which were several air conditioning units.
He said he was alerted by a telephone caller and he raced to the location but, by then, the conflagration had been put out and he was able to assess the damage, which included books, some of which were strewn outside in the compound.
The school is in the lower flat and Currie’s office and that of the GVC President, Dr. Richard Van West Charles are located upstairs.
The latter, who also spoke at the scene, said there are no guards at the location but the property is protected by Mekdeci Mining Company (M&CC) security service.
Charles added that no one was seen in and around the premises prior to the alarm but is sure the flames were set by someone.
He, however, could not give a motive for the crime but a policeman was left to guard the place after the yesterday morning incident.
GVC, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in engaged in poverty alleviation and capacity building amongst young people and has been functioning for the past two and a half years.
Meanwhile, Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle, said the Monday morning burning of the Main and Holmes Streets building, also in Georgetown, which destroyed four businesses, is still being investigated, too.
Humphrey Machinery, Dagron Tours International, Frandec Travel Service and LIAT airline, all operated from in the property, the disputed ownership of which is the subject of a court litigation.