Fire contained at Guyana Stores

The survival of one of Guyana’s oldest and largest retail department enterprises – Guyana Stores Ltd – was threatened in the wee hours of Wednesday by fire.

But after hours of battling the blaze which had engulfed the upper flat of the building closer to Main Street, Georgetown, firefighters succeeded in bringing it under control.

The report of the fire was received between 01: 00hrs  and 02: 00hrs. Several fire tenders from stations in the city responded.

It is unclear how the fire was started but Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickham said that several pockets of fire were discovered initially.

The servicemen and women jumped into firefighting mode and were able to contain the fire.

Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) was incorporated in 1976 as a State-owned enterprise to acquire the business and assets of the Booker Group of Companies.

GSL later became the largest retailer in Guyana with a reputation for the provision of high-quality goods and services at competitive prices.

This was, in the 1980s to the mid to late 1990s, an integral marketplace in Georgetown.

With its decades-old history, Guyana Stores ltd is more than just an ordinary shopping center.