Overseas private investigator hired to conduct probe

Gafoors fire

Within a span of a few hours after reopening his bond, which was razed by a fire just four months ago, Abdool Sattaur Gafoor watched as the new bond went up in flames. Believing that there was nothing within the bond that could have started the fire, Gafoor has hired a private investigator to investigate the matter.
The Chief Executive Officer of Gafoors on Thursday announced that an overseas-based private detective has been hired to work along with the Guyana Police Force, in finding out what started the fire.

Gafoor stated that based on the negative publicity that the second fire has brought on, he is confident that the private investigator will prove that it was not negligence that caused this disastrous fire.
He explained that when the Gafoors Houston Complex was almost destroyed by the first blaze in May, it was due to the lack of fire prevention measures. However, this time around, he affirmed that all recommendations made by the Guyana Fire Service were adhered to and implemented.
The company’s CEO expressed disappointment in the Chief Fire Officer’s remarks to the media earlier this week, saying “it’s the same crap… not enough diligence”.
He stated that it was not “totally incorrect” that there were combustible items in the bond; explaining that there were a few cans of paint stored, “but it was not for commercial use, it was there to paint the building”.
Gafoor added that after the first fire, the company had flown in an expert from the United Kingdom, who provided “practical solutions” to prevent the occurrence of another fire.

He pointed out that despite what persons might think, he did everything within his power to prevent another fire and so it shocked him when he realised that in “just 10 hours after we opened the bond, it burnt down”.
The most recent fire, he said, has placed a lot of financial strain on the company, noting that he feels disappointed and frustrated since he has always chosen to be at peace with everyone. He stated that he has treated all of his employees fairly, he has paid his taxes and he has opted to distance himself from politics.
He is unable to understand what could have caused the fire. He lamented that all of his stocks for the Christmas season were destroyed, and that although he has insurance for the building and the stocks, he was not insured for the profits lost.
Therefore, he stated that the Board of Directors has taken a decision to be acted upon in the event of a third fire, but he was not prepared to say what the decision was.
“Within 64 years there has never been a fire,” he lamented.
“It was literally impossible for it to take place,” he said, adding that Monday’s fire left him totally “lost for words”.
“If you were in my place, what would you do if there was a third fire? It’s not that easy to start back again,” he said.
Officer-in-Charge of Operations at the Guyana Fire Service, Compton Sparman has indicated that the department was also baffled by the fire since there was no electricity or any heat source to start the fire.
He stated that the materials stored in the bond were tiles, white cement and a small amount of Christmas decorations.
“So we want to know how it could propagate at that level. No electricity, if you look it is a bond that was constructed based on the last fire that they would have had. But because I think they cramp for space make they use the bond. No electricity, no form of heat source that dwells within, so we will have to dig deep. Nobody was inside,” he said, adding, “it started in Bond Six and confined in it. Now we have two vehicles with approximately 13 men working.”