Another fire guts Critchlow Labour College

– second in four months

Just four months after a fire devastated the western section of the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) at Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, another blaze tore through the institution late Thursday night, leaving its remaining infrastructure in ruins.
The cause of the most recent fire remains unknown. According to reports, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has launched an investigation into the incident.

The fire broke out around midnight on Thursday. Four fire tenders were dispatched to the scene, where firefighters found part of the building engulfed in flames, with visible flare-ups in multiple areas. The latest fire follows a March 22 incident which destroyed the college’s main auditorium, boardroom, a classroom, and several pieces of equipment. That blaze was confirmed to have been caused by an electrical fault. In a statement released Friday, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) described the destruction of the college as an attack on the country’s labour movement, which it says plays an essential role in Guyana’s development.
“The first fire was on March 22, 2025, and the second on July 31, 2025. GTUC is still awaiting the report on the previous fire, which is also considered suspect,” the union said. While avoiding speculation on the cause, the GTUC claimed that the repeated fires are “an act to destroy their existence,” and vowed to continue their work despite the setback. The union expressed thanks to the GFS and others who helped prevent Thursday night’s fire from spreading to nearby properties.
The Office of the President had earlier pledged support for rebuilding the institution. The CLC, which functions as the educational arm of the GTUC, has long been recognised as a key training institution offering both online and in-person programmes.
For more than five decades, it has provided educational opportunities to thousands of Guyanese across all walks of life, many of whom used it as a stepping stone to institutions like the Cyril Potter College of Education and the University of Guyana.