Contractors are dismantling the wrecked Muneshwers Ltd building on Water Street which was ravaged in a fire a month ago and a new structure is planned.
Co-owner Robert Hanoman told this newspaper on Friday that the entire structure will be pulled down making way for a new concrete three-storey building. Hanoman said the entire hardware section would be demolished together with a section at the back and the tower. He said that work will begin on the construction of the new building by month end.
According to Hanoman, a new design is planned and they have retained the services of a European-based architect.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Fire Service is still to conclude its probe into the cause of the December 19 fire, which apart from destroying the Muneshwers hardware store, consumed the Subway Restaurant, which was located on the ground floor of the building and Maersk Shipping.
A fire officer told Stabroek News on Friday that the task was a tedious one. According to the officer, because of the nature of the fire and its implications, a thorough investigation was needed. The officer acknowledged that while they were a few things which stalled their progress, it was always going to be difficult to conclude an investigation of this type in a short time.
In December, Loss Adjuster, Gregory Yeadon had told this newspaper that the collapsed roof above the section where the fire was believed to have started had impeded the progress of the probe. Yeadon said it was critical for investigators to get underneath the collapsed roof to determine the cause of the fire. When Stabroek News visited the site on Friday the roof had been removed, which meant that investigators would have gained access to the area.
Hanoman said insurance claims were submitted but they would be far below what would be required to complete the building. However, he said, they were hoping to get all the money they had claimed for.
Asked what percentage of the building was spared by the fire, Hanoman said apart from a portion of the wharf the other sections were destroyed.
"We had to conduct some immediate repairs on the wharf so that it could have been up to the Customs standards, but, other than that the wharf remained functional and in reasonably good condition," Hanoman said.
He added that the fertilisers that had been stored in a bond adjoining the wharf were removed. He acknowledged that it would have been more disastrous if the fertilisers had caught fire on the night of the blaze.
Hanoman said that most of the Muneshwers staff was retained to work at the various relocated offices. However, he said, a few workers from the hardware section had to be laid off while some were retained to help in the clearing of the site. "We are committed towards re-employing these people and they, too, said they will remain committed to us until we rebuild."
At present, the business' shipping services are being conducted above the new Palm Court restaurant located on Main Street while the airline office is operating from the Hotel Tower. Hanoman said while they have been able to settle in somewhat into these new locations they were still to receive proper telephone services from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company. He said they needed more telephone lines, the lack of which has been denying them business opportunities as prospective customers did not know where to contact them.
Hanoman added that looters continued to invade, carting off water-soaked equipment and other materials. So far, management has fenced a portion of the land, but even with 24-hour armed security guards, the looters had persisted. Stabroek News observed tonnes of nails, planes, pressure cookers and a number of other hardware items lying on the floor in the bond.
These items and more, Hanoman said, the looters would love to steal. "We have lost enough already in the fire and by looting. We can't afford more of this."
On behalf of his business partner Amarnauth Munesh-wer, Hanoman ex-pressed gratitude to all those persons who sympathised with them after their plight. However, he singled out the Customs and Trade Administration, noting that the officers were very patient and understanding. The fire had destroyed the office for Customs officers, but Hanoman said this had been replaced at the same location.
On the evening of December 19, fire of un-known origin ripped through Muneshwers Ltd. An employee had reported that they had closed off for the day and were about to leave at around 5 pm when a young man walking along Water Street alerted them to the fire in the top flat.
Despite the efforts of scores of firemen and civilians, the fire raged uncontrollably and at one time threatened the head office of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry.