The cause of the fire, which gutted Muneshwers Ltd building on Friday, is not yet known. Up to late yesterday, firemen were working to completely put out small fires, which were still burning in the building. Investigations to ascertain the cause of the blaze are likely to commence tomorrow.

According to reports, Friday's fire started in a bond on the southern side of the building. The bond, which reportedly had little electrical wiring stored a quantity of artificial flowers, thinners and spray paint (aerosol). The downstairs stored paint, contact cement, PVC fittings, toilet fittings and other building materials.

Stabroek News was told that 12 firemen sustained minor injuries while executing duties and were treated by members of the Guyana Red Cross Society who were on hand to lend assistance.

Co-owner of Muneshwers Ltd, Robert Hanoman said yesterday that the plan is to rebuild. Hanoman who gave an initial figure of US$15M in estimated damage pointed out that the figure is not certain. According to him he was emotional at the time he issued the statement.

Hanoman said that the building was a landmark in the area and added that in the past days the view had been an attractive one. He explained that his main concern is the fate of his employees since they are now jobless. He described the staff as loyal and supportive.
President Bharrat Jagdeo (left) at the Muneshwers fire on Friday afternoon. At right is PNCR member Stanley Ming. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the President)

According to him management is seeking to make the staff comfortable during the holidays as they execute the plan to refurbish. He noted that future plan for the business includes the workers' input.

He lauded the efforts of the GFS and the police, describing their respective efforts as valiant. He praised police ranks for keeping would-be looters at bay by cordoning off the area. He explained that despite the initial setbacks the firemen were efficient in their duties. According to him the decision to quell the fire from inside the building was courageous.

Hanoman disclosed that the agents for the travel agency are in talks to find alternative accommodation so business could continue. He said that the proposed location is the Hotel Tower where the agency will be housed temporarily. However, he could not say whether Subway will be up and running any time soon.

Hanoman said that the fire appeared at first like a bad dream. He said that the news jolted him into belief and it took some time before he was able to face the reality. He said that on a visit to the wreckage yesterday reality hit home.

Meanwhile, contacted yesterday for a comment on the leaky hoses seen by witnesses at the Muneshwers fire, Fire Chief Carlyle Washington told Stabroek News that the hoses would spring leaks when heavy vehicles drove over them. During Friday's fire, fork-lifts and container-lifts were salvaging equipment out of the compound, and driving over the hoses in the process. "We do not store bad hoses," he reiterated.

Asked whether water had been readily available on Friday, he said the fire service would use the Demerara river once it was in proximity. "At the fire we had enough water from the Demerara river and the nearby canal, so we did not depend on the GWI [Guyana Water Inc]," he said.

He told this newspaper that following the November 13 fire in Lombard street, the Guyana Fire Service had held a meeting with the water company on the matter of hydrants, among other things. "We just test them, he said, "the GWI is responsible for them."

But contacted on Friday to respond to similar comments made by Home Minister, Ronald Gajraj, at his end-of-year press briefing, GWI executive Andrew Barber said that the utility was not responsible for fire hydrants.

He said that there was nothing in the Water and Sewerage Act of 2001 which states that the water utility is responsible for fire hydrants, and as such, there was no requirement for GWI to install or maintain hydrants.

With regard to communicating with the GWI in times of emergency, the fire chief responded that there was an established hotline, which nobody had answered on the night of the Hadfield street fire.

Speaking at the press conference on Friday at the studio of the Guyana Television Broadcasting Company, Gajraj said that an emergency response procedure had been developed for fire-fighting.

He said that after the Pitt street fire in New Amsterdam on March 7, he convened and chaired a meeting comprising representatives of the GFS, the Guyana Police Force, GWI, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Mayor and City Council and the Guyana Sugar Corporation. The aim of the meeting was to establish a coordinating committee which would fashion a quick response capability in the event of an emergency. This had now been put together in the form of a seven-point document.

Gajraj said that the work of the fire service during the Lombard street fire had been impeded by the water supply. Of the seven hydrants in the area of the fire, six were not working. He was of the view that the procedure in relation to the water company had been complied with as far as the fire service was concerned.

The minister said also that the staff of the fire service would have functioned more effectively had they been assisted by persons on the ground.