Three weeks have passed and the Guyana Fire Service is yet to find the cause of the fire that razed the Ministry of Health Annex at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara last month.
The origin of the fire remains unknown but fire investigators say their probe is ongoing. The ministry is seeking to reconstruct the decades-old structure, an official said. Workers affected by the blaze have already been relocated, the source said.
The building which housed the Veterinary Public Health Department, the Food Policy Department, the Environmental Health Department and the Health Science Education Department quickly became engulfed in flames in the raging 3.15 am fire on March 18, scaring residents living nearby as strong winds pushed the blaze southward. Scores of villagers from neighbouring villages had rushed to the scene in sleeping clothes to watch the blaze but were cautioned by fire-fighters and police to keep away.
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle had said that although fire-fighters arrived on the scene in a timely manner, they were unable to save the building due to the strong gusts of wind fanning the flames. He had said that it was the first time that they had encountered such flames.
Ministry officials have since said that valuable records were destroyed in the fire.
The building was originally the location of the Carib Hotel ran by the Yasins.
