FOLLOWING the fire which destroyed the AL-AZIZ Splash juice factory on February 3 this year its owner, Abdul Aziz, has indicated he will rebuild.
The frustrated businessman has since left the country for Barbados, where he has gone to work and be with his family.
Relatives said the fire took a toll on the businessman but he has decided not to let his dream of having a state-of-the-art juice factory slip away, having worked so hard for so many years. The business was officially opened in July 2010 at Lot 13 L’ Esperance, canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara, which provided jobs for more than a dozen people and farmers had a ready  market for their fruits, which was processed to make juice.
The flames, which were set by three gunmen who broke into the building started  about 23:00 hours with an estimated loss of about $100M.
Once inside the building the intruders doused the night watchman, Wazir Khan and set him alight before they fled via the back fence, the same way they gained access to the premises.
The unarmed Khan related that he heard a noise emanating from the back of the building and, when he went to investigate, saw three men, one of whom lashed him with a gun in his face. Then he was bound and gagged after he said he did not have any money.
The bandits demanded cash from him before they doused the place with kerosene, lit it afire and escaped.
The arsonists wore masks and only their eyes, mouths and noses were visible when they told him they came prepared, this time, because, last year September, their entry was prevented by him when he pelted them with several bottles.
Residents responded in dozens and assisted him in forming a bucket brigade before the GFS arrived when the uncontrollable fire had almost consumed the edifice.
The business provided employment for 15 persons, who are now out of work due to the destruction.
Burglars entered the factory in August 2010 and carted off some money and six cases of juice, a month before the failed attempt.
The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility had developed a methodology for producing healthy and delicious fruit juices and other drinks, affordable to customers and had resulted in increasing farmers’ income.
Aziz had migrated to Barbados 30 years ago but returned to his homeland to invest and create employment and fulfil a dream his father had in 2004.
The establishment produced 4,000 gallons of juices of various flavours weekly, using modern machines.