The cause of the March 7/8 fire which gutted almost one half of New Amsterdam's business centre may never be determined. Stabroek News understands that a badly damaged main switch and an electrical panel removed by the Guyana Fire Service from the burnt-out J&N Supermarket were handed-over to the electrical section of the Works Department earlier this week.
This fire which razed ten business premises, one small cottage and several stalls between last Friday night and Saturday morning is said to have started at the supermarket. Eyewitnesses told this newspaper that they saw smoke coming from behind a freezer in the building shortly before the inferno erupted.
The Guyana Fire Service has launched an investigation into the fire to ascertain the cause and requested a report from the Regional Electrical Section. However a source from the section disclosed that the switch and panel were too badly damaged to arrive at any conclusion about the possible cause of the fire. According to the source, "We do not have the technology in Guyana to conduct the required scientific probe in the circumstances. As a result we are not in a position to submit a report as requested because al the possible evidence has been destroyed." The electrical installations on the building he said were inspected by the section in October last when a new meter was installed by the operator of the supermarket. The building he pointed out was divided into two by the owners and as a result the circuits were separated requiring independent meters.
"The operator of the supermarket did not have to re-wire his section but may have overhauled the installation, changing defective switches and/or damaged wires following which he was issued with a Certificate of Inspection." The other half of the building was utilized by the owner as a snackette.
Stabroek News understands that businesses should be subjected to "vigilant inspections" on an annual basis by the electrical section but none have been carried out for some time in Pitt street apart from the supermarket. The section which has responsibility for the entire region is reportedly under-staffed with one electrical inspector (ag), one electrician and four electrical assistants. This has seriously affected its ability to effectively monitor and inspect businesses and other buildings under its jurisdiction in the region.
One source posited that a possible cause could have been "a damaged appliance. The motor on the freezer could have broken down" he suggested, "and began over-heating before eventually igniting." He however cautioned that this was only a possible scenario. The causes of fires in the township over recent years have never been determined and this has been attributed to the lack of the required technology and expertise to undertake scientific probes. In one case an insurance company was forced to solicit assistance from overseas to investigate the cause of a fire after local officials failed to make a determination.
Meanwhile the nine-member committee established to explore possible areas of assistance for fire victims held its first meeting yesterday in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council in Vryman's Erven. Reports coming out of the closed-door session indicate that some victims are still to submit the requested information in relation to their losses to the committee. Head of the committee, Maniram Persaud, Advisor to the President on Investment issued a call to those victims who have not yet completed the questionnaires to do so as quickly as possible. According to Persaud vendors and displaced persons who have no where to go will be given priority. The committee, he said, is collecting as much information as possible and intends to process claims expeditiously.
Among those attending the meeting were Town Clerk Laurel Alfred, an official from the Ministry of Finance, Community Relations Officer attached to the Office of the President Faizal Jafarally and four representatives of the victims.
The committee comprises four representatives of the victims, and representative each from the Town Council, the Regional Administration, the Ministry of Finance and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCC&DA). According to Alfred, the Town Council has been meeting with some business persons to explore areas of possible assistance. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for some time next week. Forms requesting information on losses and other details are available from Secretary of the Committee, Faizal Jafarally.
The future of the 100-odd employees who are now jobless as a result of the fire remains cloudy and uncertain. Many are hoping that they will be offered some form of assistance either from their former employers or the government.
However, their employers are themselves seeking assistance from the government after suffering losses in the form of properties and/or assets. Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon announced on Wednesday that the government has promised tax relief including waivers and remissions for fire victims. They would also benefit from relief on construction materials and statutory tax liabilities.
What assistance would be offered those unfortunately on the breadline, however, still remains unanswered.