Fire destroys Park Hotel, New Thriving Restaurant
By Gwen Evelyn
A POPULAR, top class Chinese restaurant and the Park Hotel were reduced to rubble yesterday when fire swept through the famous building on Main Street, Georgetown. Shortly after the fire started, it was clear that the damage would be tremendous and in about half an hour's time, the flames had rapidly spread through the building, licking greedily at the old wood with which most of it had been constructed. The Park Hotel building, owned by the Kissoon family, has been around for about 191 years, making it one of the oldest buildings in Georgetown. It was considered a Heritage Site. And the New Thriving Restaurant which occupied a part of the hotel about two years ago, rapidly became a favourite dinner and lunch spot for Guyanese from all walks of life. The fire reportedly started about 12:15 hrs yesterday. Eye witnesses said that when the fire tenders arrived, there was no smoke in sight. The eyewitnesses said they were having lunch when they saw the fire tenders and thought that it may have been a false alarm. According to them, they then saw smoke and realised that something was wrong. These persons think that the fire department could have saved the building. However, they ran out of water, the men claimed. Another eye witness said he saw a man jump from a back window of the hotel. It is unclear whether he is a guest. New Thriving's Manager, Mr Fung Younge, said that about US$350,000 was invested into setting up the restaurant. Younge, who was not on the premises when the fire started, arrived to find something burning upstairs in the Park Hotel. Younge said the restaurant's owner, Mr Xia Guang Zhao, is in China at the moment. Meanwhile, restaurant staffers sat with woeful expressions on their face, watching their place of employment burn. One was heard telling her friend sadly: "This done Zeena, this done." "I seeing and can't believe this happening; like I dreaming," another man said as he watched. When calamity struck, about seven tables in the restaurant were occupied by guests having lunch. These persons had to be evacuated immediately. The restaurant staffers complained that nobody alerted them that there was a fire. It was one of their own colleagues who broke the news, employees said. "They could have told us something," one said. Staff members managed to empty one manager's room and save important documents. A computer system was also rescued. One of the hotel's family owners, Mr Kim Kissoon, said he was not in the building when the fire started and does not know what happened. None of his staff members could be found to offer information. Kissoon, however, said his family took over the building in 1976 and added a new wing in the 1980s. Apart from the guest rooms, Park Hotel housed two conference rooms and its restaurant. Sporadic, loud explosions filled the air as gas tanks exploded. There was also the sound of shattering glass and the hissing of water as firemen worked. At other times, a burnt section of the building could be heard falling. Taking it all in was a guest of the hotel, Ken Maraj. Maraj, who stood with a group of friends, also guests at the hotel, said he is here for the West Indies/Pakistan cricket match. And in fact, when the fire started, he was at the Bourda cricket ground. Maraj, who is here with 14 other persons, said that those at the cricket ground returned to the hotel. The group had planned on leaving for home today. However, all their clothes and travel documents were burnt. Commissioner of Police, Mr Laurie Lewis who was on the scene, told reporters that the Passport and Immigration Office will be open today from 09:00 hrs to make arrangements for those who lost their travel documents. Lewis said emergency documents will be prepared. As the hotel guests contemplated their next move, neighbouring Palm Court restaurant and bar staffers were doing battle to save those premises. Palm Court's Proprietor, Mr Jad Rahaman, said it was a close call since the business's back building had caught fire. It was, however, saved. A bucket brigade was formed and Rahaman said he has about 3000 gallons of water stored and this was used to extinguish the flames. Rahaman reported that there was no excessive damage and added that the Fire Service did everything it could have done. Rahaman and his staff were also cooling the restaurant's gas tanks to prevent an explosion. Several items, including office documents and machinery, were taken out of Palm Court in the event that the fire spread. The roof of the Customs and Excise building was also damaged. And the United States Embassy was doing some cooling of its own at a building between Park Hotel and Palm Court. An embassy official told the media that they had to keep stored containers of diesel in its building cool to prevent any further disasters. He, however, declined to comment further. Commissioner Lewis said that he brought out police reserves to deal with possible threats. He said the hotel had a gas tank and the crowd of roughly 3 000 had to be kept at bay so they would not be affected by the explosion. Lewis said the crowd was very cooperative and some even assisted in fighting the fire. Fire Chief, Mr Tulsi John, said he got the emergency fire call at 12:22 hrs and dispatched five fire tenders. Two came from the central unit; another from West Ruimveldt, the fourth from Campbellville and the last from Ogle. John said they were able to get their water supply from hydrants and the Demerara River even though the tide was low. The Fire Chief noted that building is high and the wood old. These factors contributed to its rapid destruction. Compounding matters were the propane gas and fuel stored in the building. "This meant a serious threat," John said, adding that his men worked hard. Some suffered minor injuries, he added. Meanwhile, behind the buildings in Tiger Bay, residents began clearing out their houses of furnishings and clothes. They were concerned that the fire may reach them. Many live in old wooden homes. Minister of Culture, Ms Gail Teixeira, remembered the hotel being there when she was a child. In colonial times, it was a place where only Whites could enter. However, this changed when the Kissoons took over, Teixeira said. Teixeira said it housed a lot of art work, including sculptures. Some were done by a famous Guyanese artist. "It's a great loss," she said of the tragedy. Teixeira noted that not only was a building lost, but history as well. It was a place for political meetings and important discourses. Seminars were held at the Park hotel. People met there and became engaged and married. It was also the place to be to greet the new year. At 14:15 hrs, as the fire finally died, the crowd still stared in disbelief. Some sat on the ground, others stood and gazed. The New Thriving restaurant was reduced to wet debris. But the two massive and stately lion figures that greeted customers soundlessly, remained intact and continued to stare contentedly at nothing. Also standing were the striped outdoor tents that covered chairs and tables for those using the bar. The chairs were scattered. Fluttering limply in the wind, was the New Thriving flag. By 14:55hrs, people began to drift away from the scene.
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