‘Minimal damage’ – fire contained at GNSC wharf

Ranks of the Guyana Fire Service on Sunday morning managed to contain a fire at the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC) wharf at Lombard Street, Georgetown to a single building, avoiding a major catastrophe.

“We can thank the stars that it was nothing serious. We have suffered minimal loss…Things could have been worse,” said Euclin Gomes, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of GNSC.

The fire reportedly started at around 08:20hrs in the workshop, according to Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie.

He told reporters at the scene that even though the workshop was “gutted”, firefighters managed to keep the blaze from spreading.

“The situation is under control,” the Top Cop said.

Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn who has been present at all fire scenes, said that work was ongoing by the company in the ‘gear room’ where the fire started.

“Every other facility is safe and under control at the moment,” the security minister said.

Benn is satisfied with the response of the fire service saying “they’ve done quite well this time.”

It was only two weeks ago that a massive fire engulfed the Laparkan Shipping Company next to the GNIC wharf and Benn is concerned about this.

Last week he met with the executives of Laparkan where issues of fire safety were discussed.

“We discussed the after-action report for that fire…and we spoke to the executives and board members about the need for them to ensure there is capability for them to deal with fires at the premises which are required by the laws.”

According to Benn, the executives were actually in the process of implementing fire suppression capabilities at the facility when Sunday’s fire erupted.

The Home Affairs Minister continues to plead with business owners to install fire prevention systems.