Business owner to receive assistance from Govt in rebuilding

D’Urban Street fire

Following a devastating fire at D’Urban and George Streets, Georgetown, on Thursday that completely ravaged a home and a business, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn met with the owner after he staged a protest requesting Government’s assistance to rebuild.
Kevin Phillips, the owner of one of the two homes, told Guyana Times that the Minister along with other Ministers in the Government offered to assist him.
The business man said he has been living and running his vulcanising business at the premises for a number of years. He said the shop has been his means of survival, and now that the fire has destroyed everything, he has nothing to rely on.
The fire which started at about 01:45h on Thursday, not only destroyed the man’s home and business place, but has left over a dozen persons, including Venezuelan migrants, homeless.

“In the wee hours in the morning, I wake up after my dogs keep barking and I looked through a little vent in my window and I saw three guys leaving. Soon after I heard the neighbour hollering ‘Fire! Fire!’ and so I was confused by the alarming fire. When I open my window, I see a set of fire just blazing out of control… I tried to render assistance by trying to help people that living in the house, and it wasn’t possible because the fire wasn’t normal,” he said.

Phillips contended that the fire was arson since not only did he recall seeing persons in the yard but there is also CCTV footage showing three males leaving the premises shortly before there was an explosion and the fire started.
The businessman also recalled seeing the suspects at the scene of the fire assisting him to get his belongings out of the burning building. According to Phillips, he does not have any grievances with anyone, and is unaware as to why someone would want to do this to him.
“Imagine they light the fire at the step so that people can’t come out… I don’t know what kind of substance or chemical they used… I have lost everything, and I am calling on our President Dr Irfan Ali to help me restore this business back to its greatness… I am a self-made business man… and I would like get help … “, Phillips pleaded.
Philips is also calling for justice while noting that not only did the perpetrators take everything from him but they also left him in a lot of debts.
“I want justice! I want help to restore this business, because justice alone can’t bring back the losses and the pain. Everybody in this building lost everything… one of my suppliers lend me $2 million in credit and more… I didn’t buy my things cash; I can’t afford it. I am also on the verge of buying this place and this is what happened.”
Phillips, who is a father of three and helps to take care of his siblings, said he is the breadwinner for his family, and they are now trying to make their lives better.
Persons who are interested in helping Phillips are asked to contact him on 669-1896.