$1.7M in losses after fire destroys Berbice grocery

A fire, which is believed to have been deliberately set, on Tuesday morning destroyed a grocery at Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The building was owned by Bibi Bhudoo of Rotterdam Village, East Bank of Berbice.
Reports are that fire was seen in the vicinity of the back door of the Edinburgh grocery shortly before 02:00h on Tuesday. Losses are estimated at $1.7 million.

Neighbours formed a bucket brigade in an attempt to put out the blaze. However, because of the time of the fire, not many persons were present.
They were unsuccessful in their attempts with the bucket brigade and as such, opted to use a hose and sourced water from a nearby pipe. However, as that process commenced, the water supply was cut off from the pump station.
Bhudoo said when she arrived, persons had their buckets in hand but heat prevented them from going close to the burning building.
When the Fire Service arrived, the officers quickly doused the flames.
Evidence of a bag of garbage that was used to start the fire was seen by the back door.
Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald said the fire was maliciously started.
Bhudoo said she has been operating the business for the past ten years and only last week stocked for the anticipated increase in sales for the holidays.
The woman had left the store at around 21:30h on Monday.
“But I didn’t sell yesterday whole day but I go and collect a bottle of water and I come back out, but I checked the building and then after 01:30 I get a call saying that the shop on fire,” she told this publication.
Sources said that a female was seen in a nearby bus shed sometime after midnight.
The incident took place on the morning of Bhudoo’s 34th birthday.
There are reports that a close family member had expressed interest in the land the grocery story was on and there was some dispute over the matter. Police are investigating. (G4)