October 17,2016 Source.
INVESTIGATIONS into the fire that gutted a Gafoors bond last Monday seem to be making headway as a suspect held by police has reportedly told investigators that a Georgetown businessman hired the men to set the blaze.The fire completely destroyed Bond Six of the Houston, East Bank Demerara complex, which was rebuilt to the tune of US$2M and was stocked with some US$2M in stocks at the time of the fire.
The bond went up in flames the first day it was reopened after it was destroyed in a blaze on May 9, that threatened to devour the entire complex.
The suspect, who gave a statement at the Ruimveldt Police Station, allegedly told police that the two men who work for the businessman were paid and he wanted some of the money because he knew of their plan.
The suspect was caught at 2:00 am Sunday morning in the Gafoors Compound by the company’s security.
Under interrogation, the man reportedly informed investigators that the two men managed to set the bond ablaze.
According to a source close to the investigation, the man explained that the two men gained access to the Gafoor’s compound using a boat they boarded at the Meadow Bank Wharf.
The men then traveled and docked under Gafoor’s wharf at the rear of the complex and gained access to the complex at the back of the building by climbing onto a canopy.
Once they reached their target, the men reportedly sprayed gasoline through the southern vent before lighting the building on fire.
Gafsons Industries Executive Chairman Sattaur Gafoor had revealed that a US investigator will soon arrive in Guyana to fully investigate the circumstances under which the fire occurred.
“There is too much at stake, we have lost profits for this period of time when we are out of business. All I can say we have tried over the years to offer the best possible service; we have always paid our taxes; we have always been honest to our employees and above all we have honoured our commitments to society; we have fulfilled our corporate responsibilities and we avoid confrontation. For so many years, we have never had a problem, why now are we having all these problems,” a composed but tired Gafoor had said.
The businessman told Guyana Chronicle that he believes the fire is very unusual and Gafsons will work along with the Fire Service and the police in every possible way to get to the bottom of the origin of the recent fire.