Men at work: The frame of the new Muneshwer's building on Water Street. (Ken Moore photo)
The fire-ravaged Munesh-wer's Complex on Water Street is being rebuilt even though the owners have not yet received any compensation from the insurance companies.
Today makes it exactly three months since a fire of unknown origin destroyed the Muneshwer's hardware and fertiliser bonds, offices of two shipping services and the Subway franchise.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, co-owner of the business, Robert Hanoman said the origin of the fire has not yet been determined. He said as far as he knew investigators have completed their work, but they have not made the findings known.
Stabroek News was told by an officer at the Guyana Fire Service that investigations were completed and the findings were with the police. This newspaper was unable ascertain whether this was so.
In terms of rebuilding, Hanoman told this newspaper the new structure would be constructed to the same size as the burnt one. He said the design was drawn by an English architect. At the moment, contractors are working on the structure of the building and have erected steel frames to the southern section of the complex.
Hanoman said they intended to complete the building by October this year and hoped to rehire all of their former staff sent home following the fire.
According to Hanoman, the business has secured all of the necessary clearances from the Mayor and City Council and the Ministry of Housing and is working to plan so far. And despite the sloth in processing the fire claims, Hanoman said it was not envisaged that this would cause a delay in the building plans.
At present, the Munesh-wer's Travel Agency operates from the Hotel Tower. Maersk Shipping, which like the travel agency was housed in the complex, has been relocated to a site behind the new Palm Court restaurant and bar.
With regard to the other Muneshwer's building located at Commerce and Water streets Hanoman said the initial plan was to relocate all of the businesses at that new complex until the fire-ravaged one was rebuilt.
But he said a recent spate of break-ins had caused a revision of this plan. The Commerce Street building is almost completed and despite it not being open for business, thieves have broken in and stolen several articles forcing them to put iron grill around the entire structure. According to him, it was with great reluctance that they did this since the grill work was unattractive. (Nigel Williams)