THE Guyana Fire Service has mounted investigations into the origin of a fire which razed the former home of Public Works Minister Robeson Benn yesterday afternoon. According to Minister Benn, he received a call informing him that the house at Lot 84 Richmond Hill, Linden, was ablaze and firemen were responding. The house, which was unused since early 2006 after Minister Benn and his family moved to Georgetown, was formerly hit by a spate of thefts, the minister said. Thieves made off with appliances, furniture and eventually half of the roof, despite arrangements being put in place to secure and check on the property.
Minister Benn said that initial investigations show that the fire was as a result of a “bush fire”. The issue at hand, however, the minister said, was whether the fire was accidental or intentional, and he hopes that investigations will pronounce with certainty, as to the cause of the fire which resulted in millions of dollars in losses.