Sheldon Sauns, Fire Prevention Officer of the Guyana Fire Service yesterday said that the blaze that ravaged a wing of Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) last Wednesday was electrical in origin.
The fire engulfed a section of the eastern wing of the Universal Department located at Lot 19 Water Street, Georgetown.
Water tenders from the Central, Alberttown, West Ruimveldt and Campbellville fire stations responded to the blaze at 01:29 am on Wednesday. The historic three-story wooden and concrete building is operated as a department store and is owned by Guyanese businessman Tony Yassin who resides in the United States.
More than fifty percent of the building was saved while the eastern section of both the ground floor as well as the entire first floor were severely damaged.
According to the Guyana Stores LinkedIn website, the store which offers a wide range of items and services, was incorporated in 1976 as a state-owned enterprise to acquire the business and assets of the Booker Group of Companies. It housed for a long time the famous Bookers department store.
