– Fire Chief
FIRE Chief Marlon Gentle emphasized, yesterday, that with regard to the recent Barrack Street and Main Street fires in Georgetown, the investigations are active and he has not ruled out anything, including arson, as was stated in another section of the print media. About the Barrack Street Wednesday morning incident, it is suspected that improper storage may have resulted in the blaze, as it was observed that the wiring under the building, where books are stored, was scorched, he said.
But the Government Electrical Inspector is yet to examine the scene and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is investigating the occurrence from all angles.
The eastern wall of the Lot 109 ‘E’ Barrack Street, Kingston edifice was damaged and Proprietor/Programme Manager of the private school, Gamaliel Academy, Mr. Bevon Currie, said it also houses the office of Guyana Volunteer Consultancy (GVC).
The learning institution is located in the lower flat and Currie’s office and that of the GVC’s President, Dr. Richard Van West Charles is upstairs.
Gentle said the Monday morning burning of the Main and Holmes Streets three-storey building, in which four businesses were destroyed, is still being investigated, too.
Humphrey Machinery, Dagron Tours International, Frandec Travel Service and LIAT airline operated in the property. There is an ownership dispute, which is the subject of court litigation.
Meanwhile, Dagron Tours said it has relocated, temporarily, to Lot 91 Middle Street, also in Georgetown and is open for business as usual.  (Michel Outridge)