GEORGETOWN, Guyana – A building housing the sub-district of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) was among three buildings set ablaze on Tuesday, police have confirmed.
The police said the GECOM building at Wismar, Linden that lies on the Demerara River was reported on fire at 1.35 am (local time) and that fire officials were able to contain the fire to the one building.
The police said a security guard who was on duty said she heard a loud explosion at the back of the building and on investigation, saw two men running away from the area.
The upper flat of the building was completely destroyed while the bottom flat was saved but sustained water and other damages. Nothing was saved from the inside of the building and the law enforcement authorities have since launch an investigation into the matter.
The fire at GECOM comes as the country awaits the official results of the disputed March 2 regional and general election. GECOM is expected to meet on Tuesday to receive a new report from the Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, indicating which of the political parties on the poll.
In his last report, which was not accepted by the GECOM chairman, retired justice Claudette Singh, Lownefield had said that the ruling coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had defeated the main opposition People’s Progressive Party /Civic (POPP/C)
Police said they are also investigating a fire at an unoccupied building at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Second Infantry Battalion Base at Maria Lodge on the Essequibo Coast.
They said the blaze at around 3.00 am (local time) badly damaged the building that had no electricity supply.
Neighbours said they were able to bring the fire under control before the Fire Service .
A police report said the floor of the building was partially burnt along with the walls located on the northern and southern side.
Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched into an early morning fire that gutted a section of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Anna Regina Police Station.
The police said that the fire, which began at around 5.00 am (local time) was discovered by a police constable, who was making checks around the wooden building in the station compound when he noticed smoke emanating from the Office of the Regional Detective Inspectors and the Regional Prosecutor.
The police report stated that a number of louvre windows had been removed from the office and a liquid, suspected of being kerosene was found nearby.
CMC
