A devastating fire engulfed the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, on Saturday morning, destroying approximately 80 per cent of the building.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, who was on the scene, confirmed the extent of the damage, and speaking to reporters, Benn revealed that authorities were informed of the fire sometime before their arrival and upon reaching the location, they found the structure extensively damaged.
“The fire trucks were passing us on Homestretch where we were burning illegal drugs, which were seized… When we heard that it was 6.3, which means that it has fully engulfed the building, we left, and the firemen were already engaged and laying in lines for water. There were two or three units here and another two came. The fire was in the main building administration and auditorium on the western side of the building, on the eastern side,” Minister Benn stated.
He confirmed that the fire service was quick to respond but faced a difficult situation due to the extent of the flames.
The Critchlow Labour College established in 1967 has been a long-standing educational institution in Guyana, providing training and development opportunities to hundreds of students annually. The destruction of the building will have a significant impact on those who rely on its facilities.
Benn noted that “There are at least 200 or more students and staff who, on a daily basis, occupy the building during the work week, of course. There are usually cultural events here, too, on the weekends. There are also students from this and other vocational centres who come here for classes. So, there may be a service board of about 600 or more people, depending…”, the Minister stated.
While the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and have announced the possibility of rebuilding.
“We have to see how we can support the response to rebuild. It has to be rebuilt. That’s where we are,” he added.
