All 150 workers from Muneshwers, which was gutted by fire on December 19, are guaranteed jobs when the complex is rebuilt, owners Amernauth Muneshwer and Robert Hanoman said yesterday.
There are still no clues as to the origin of the fire that devastated the complex, which housed a hardware store, a travel agency, a shipping company and the local Subway franchise. The investigations, which are being conducted by the fire department and the insurance companies, are still open, though stalled by the collapse of the roof just above the spot where the fire is believed to have started.
"We know it's a difficult period and most of them have families..." co-owner Hanoman told Stabroek News yesterday, as investigators from the fire department continued their work at the site.
He said the company was hopeful that the investigations and insurance claims would be completed expeditiously, to get the workers back on the job as early as possible. All the workers were paid their December salaries before the fire.
"They are very loyal employees... we wouldn't want to lose them," he said.
"They show their loyalty by visiting [the site] everyday, lending moral support. It demonstrates their loyalty."
"...As soon as we get the green light we will rebuild and they will be all back on the job," an animated Muneshwer said yesterday, from the damaged office that housed Maersk Shipping.
The shipping company is now being housed in a building at the back of the new Palm Court restaurant and bar, while the Muneshwers travel agency is operating out of the Hotel Tower.
Meanwhile, despite the presence of armed guards at the site, the complex is still being raided by looters. They have been visiting the site nightly, carting off any items that were saved from the fire, after gaining access to the complex via the Demerara River. The company has still not begun to salvage anything from the debris, because the investigation is still open.
On December 19, a fire of unknown origin started in the bond on the southern side of the building, which housed among other items paint thinner and spray paint.