Laparkan fire was maliciously set – Fire Chief (ag)

Four days after a massive fire destroyed two shipping storage bonds at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNIC) wharf, Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham revealed that the fire was ‘maliciously set’.

Millions of dollars in vehicles and other imported items were destroyed at the Laparkan and Tropical Shipping bonds.

“The fire was maliciously set by person or persons unknown,” Wickham told the News Room on Thursday.

According to him “a set of activities” were done on the night of the fire which led his investigators to believe that it was maliciously set. While he could not say whether there are persons of interest, Wickham said it is now the police’s job to go after the suspects.

The fire started just before midnight on January 16 at Lombard and Broad Streets in Georgetown on the northern side of the bond.

A total of 11 vehicles were destroyed, five were severely damaged and three others were slightly damaged. The majority of the vehicles were bought by private citizens.

Meanwhile, Laparkan also suffered the loss of one Bobcat machine, a quantity of office furniture, gas cylinders, crates of energy drinks, three 40 feet containers containing electrical cables and flex hoses, three electrical transformers and three 40 feet refrigeration containers.

The fire also ruined propane cylinders, several barrels containing foodstuff, clothing, household appliances and other items.

Tropical Shipping sustained water damage and minor fire damage.

Several companies, as well as private citizens, use Laparkan to import items here.