THE fire which destroyed portions of the Providence canefields on Thursday night, was maliciously set, Berbice Divisional Fire Officer, Dwayne Scotland, has confirmed.
As investigations continue, Scotland noted that arson was committed by one or more persons at the East Bank Berbice location.

Fire swept through the Providence Canefields, East Bank Berbice, just after 19:30hrs on Thursday evening.

Several acres of sugar cane were destroyed, in addition to the  cultivation plots supplying the Albion Factory, the lone East Berbice Sugar Estate, just over two miles away.
The blaze was seen some half mile away and while the Guyana Fire Service responded in a timely manner, their limited access to water forced them to leave the scene, prematurely, without fully extinguishing the blaze.

Nearby residents who were threatened by the billowing smoke expressed concern over the arson, in the light of election-related incidents.

Meanwhile, during last year, 217 malicious fires were set in the Ancient County.