A Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) supermarket was early Wednesday morning gutted by fire, resulting in millions in losses.
The fire, which is suspected to have been the work of arsonists, completely ravaged the bottom flat of the two-storey building.
The bottom flat of the store was completely ravaged by fire
It was reported to Guyana Times that the fire started at the Congenial Super Centre around 03:00h.
According to the owner of the business, Rohan Itwaru, he was awakened by his brother-in-law, who informed him that the businessplace was on fire.
The man relayed that he rushed to the scene as he lives only a few houses away and saw the building up in flames.
Businessman Rohan Itwaru and his wife
“I don’t live too far, I came here about 3 o’clock after my brother-in-law came and got me , he told me that the place was on fire, I came here and I saw the building on fire. The fire brigade was just behind me, but the locals were already trying to form a bucket brigade using water and mud across the road,” he explained.
According to the man, from all indications, several persons carried out the act of torching the business, as bars from a number of windows were removed for them to gain entry into the premises.
“The fire investigators told us that it appears to be the work of arsonists because multiple parts of the building were broken into, especially the window; they knocked out the bars to gain entry,” Itwaru added.
He also disclosed that a container of diesel was found on a bread rack in the store, but the substance was not sold at the supermarket.
The devastated businessman estimated his losses to be well over $40 million.
“Right now, I am speechless because the loss is so much and the problem is we don’t have insurance, we were planning to do so in the next couple of months.”
A storage bond being built aback the supermarket was also badly damaged by the flames. The businessman explained that although he might have suspicions as to who may have committed the act, he would leave the investigations to the Police.
The businessplace is located directly in front of the Cane Grove Police Station.
According to the owner’s wife, the surveillance cameras that are located in front of the building facing the Police Station were all turned upwards; hence, nothing was recorded. An investigation has been launched into the incident.
