Park Hotel razed
By Oscar P. Clarke and Desiree Jodah
A midday fire in Main Street yesterday razed an old landmark hotel and its adjoining restaurant. The stately Park Hotel owned by the Kissoon family, and the New Thriving Restaurant, which was located on the premises, were totally destroyed by the fire thought to have started on the top floor of the hotel. Assisted by a north-easterly breeze it quickly engulfed the century old building. When Stabroek News arrived on the scene at about 12:35 pm, flames could be seen leaping from the top north-eastern section of the hotel. Chaos reigned. A single tender was visible on the Main Street thoroughfare and fire fighters were busy trying to get their hoses into action as the fire ate through the wooden structure. Within half an hour of this newspaper's arrival, the fire had spread to the northern wing of the hotel and had consumed the entire top flat of the building. This newspaper has learnt that the kitchen of the hotel was situated on the middle floor. The top floor was not in use because of its fragile nature. Chris Kissoon, who was said to be the manager of the hotel, was unable to speak to this newspaper as he was overcome by emotion. In a matter of minutes the front part of the structure became overwhelmed by the flames which quickly spread to other wings of the city establishment. Information received by this newspaper stated that many persons including members of various Caribbean media who had travelled to this country to view the Test match between the West Indies and the touring Pakistan team were staying at that hotel. Jamaican photo-journalist Samuel Delmar, told Stabroek News that he had lost his passport, ticket, clothing and a camera in the fire. The reporter also stated that he had been a regular guest of the Main Street establishment, since 1981, whenever he came to Guyana to cover cricket. Residents of the nearby Tiger Bay area joined forces with members of the fire brigade as buildings in the immediate vicinity were threatened by the flames. Many formed bucket brigades to wet their homes while others not in the immediate area removed their belongings which they secured in a nearby church. The former United States Information Services building at Bentick and Main streets was threatened as the intensity of the flames started fires on its fence. A tender from the US Embassy's Kingston location was dispatched to the scene on standby. Other nearby buildings including popular night spot Palm Court, were also threatened. Embers from the fire, blown onto the roof of the Palm Court guest house at the back of the yard started burning. Employees from that establishment, proprietor Jad Rahaman stated, worked frantically to have it extinguished. He said that water tanks on the roof holding some three thousand gallons were opened to help with the cooling of his propane gas tanks which were at one time in danger of exploding as temperatures rose in the mid-afternoon sun. Some Palm Court guests were seen removed their belongings and some computers were also removed to points of safety. New Thriving Restaurant Manager, Fung Young, said he was alerted to the fire by waiters of the establishment who reported seeing smoke coming from the top of the building. Patrons who were in the popular eating house were all successfully evacuated. A waitress at the restaurant stated that as they exited the eating place they saw staff of the hotel running up Bentick Street in the direction of Water Street. An eyewitness to whom this newspaper spoke stated that he saw a man who might have been a guest of the hotel, jump out of an upper storey window and escape by leaping onto the overhanging zinc canopy and onto the ground. A short while after the start of the fire a bewildered Alton Kim Kissoon arrived on the scene. He told this newspaper that he received the news while watching the cricket match between Pakistan and the West Indies at Bourda. He stated that an announcement of the unfortunate development was made over the public address system at the ground as many there were guests at the Park Hotel. Kissoon stated that the famous Omawale Lumumba art collection which was part of the family's private collection had been completely destroyed in the flames. He was unable to estimate the cost of the damage to the premises but stated that it ran into millions. Fire Chief Tulsi John with whom this newspaper also spoke stated that his department received the report at 12:20 pm and immediately dispatched two tenders from the Central Fire Station. Other tenders, he said, arrived from the West Ruimveldt, Campbellville and Ogle stations. Water, John said, had to be obtained from the nearby Demerara River and hydrants in the immediate vicinity. The fire department head also stated that high winds coupled with the age of the building and the gas on the premises, aided in the rapid spread of the fire. Some of the firemen sustained minor injuries. The fire was brought under control at 2:15 pm. John said that investigations into the blaze would begin immediately to determine its likely cause. Police were able to effectively control the crowd, estimated at one time to be in the region of 3,000 persons, as they cordoned off both halves of the Main Street thoroughfare and adjoining streets. Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis, who was at the scene was appreciative of the crowd's cooperation. Minister of Culture, Gail Teixeira, who was also at the scene expressed sadness at the loss of what she termed a Georgetown landmark of historical significance. She said that the loss of the Omawale Lumumba collection was not just a loss to the Kissoon family, but to the entire country.
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