FIRE, of unknown origin, destroyed a bond and a building housing an ice cream parlour and a wholesale business at Anna Regina, on the Essequibo Coast, early yesterday morning. Owner of the business, Mr. Rohan Sarjoo, who is a tenant of overseas resident Mr. Ivan Naraine, told the Guyana Chronicle he was asleep in the upper flat of the two-storey concrete and wooden structure when he was awakened, around 01:00 hrs, by two of his employees who were inside watching television.
They reported that the lights were blinking and Sarjoo said he saw smoke issuing from the bottom flat and rushed out with the two workers.
He called the 912 emergency number and firefighters from Anna Regina responded promptly but after their arrival a big blaze erupted and, before it could be brought under control, caused destruction of the bond containing millions of dollars in stock and household furniture.
Sarjoo, also an agent of Sterling Products, said although his loss is in millions of dollars, he is determined to move on and will be aiming to clean up the premises and resume his operations within another week.
Meantime, eight persons are out of work.
Sarjoo, usually, stays in the upper flat of the edifice whenever he is on the Essequibo Coast to conduct his business.
Meanwhile, his big promotion for the upcoming Mashramani will continue because he has already made most of the preparations, he said.
Chairman of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Alli Baksh, who was in the large crowd that gathered, said the firefighters did a very good job in preventing the flames from spreading to the next door gasolene station.