Kaieteur News understands that the first fire occurred around 12:00hrs at Nelson Street, Mocha Arcadia, destroying an old two-storey wooden and concrete house which was occupied by a man in his 60s. Neighbours, who identified the man as ‘Jamakie’, told this publication that the man was not at home when the fire started. They said he was reportedly a few houses away on the street when someone alerted him that his house was on fire.

The neighbours said the house was without electricity for some time. It is unclear what caused the fire, but a majority of the structure and its contents were destroyed, leaving only the concrete section standing. The fire was extinguished by neighbours and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS). An investigation has been launched by the GFS into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, around 16:30hrs last Saturday, fire destroyed the East Ruimveldt Community Centre.  It is unclear how the fire started in the two-storey building that once housed a nursery school and daycare centre.

Residents told Kaieteur News that the building has been unoccupied for some time. “It once housed the East Ruimveldt Nursery and Daycare, but that has been closed years now. I believe because the building is a vacant building, nobody don’t be there… it might be electrical,” one resident related. Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, who was on the scene, told reporters that just after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council closed the building with the intention of reopening it to accommodate a daycare for residents and staff. Mentore said that while closed, he was told that the building was used to store departmental files. “So, I have just confirmed that the building is insured, so if there’s any loss we’ll be able to recover, to be able to start the rebuilding of this place,” he explained. Meanwhile, firefighters worked tirelessly to control the blaze. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.  (Kaieteur News)