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Arson responsible for Mon Repos Shopping Mart fire – Fire Chief
Fire Chief Marlon Gentle yesterday said that arson was behind the early morning fire at the Tony and Cavita Shopping Mart at Melsha Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara on Sunday.
“Somebody set it on fire,” said Gentle, who stressed that the cause of the fire was determined only after an investigation was carried out. He added that the police will now be probing this case.
What is left of the Tony and Cavita Shopping Mart
Around 05:00 hrs on Sunday, fire struck a devastating blow to a young business couple, completely destroying their store which had millions of dollars in stock.
The business is owned by Raul Tony Persaud and his wife Cavita of Phase One, Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.
Yesterday, Persaud said that he has no idea who may want to destroy his store. “I don’t know who would want to do that. I have no enemies, no angry customers or neighbours.”
According to Persaud, the land belongs to his aunt and with her permission, he started up his business.
It is the second time that fire struck at the location within the past seven years, and it has left the young couple in anguish.
In March 2007, fire razed a much bigger establishment which was run by Persaud’s father.
On the day of the fire, Persaud had told this newspaper that he had left his home around 05:00 hours to go and open up his other business on the Mon Repos tarmac when he received word that the store was on fire.
He said that he does not open the store for business on Sundays and no one was there when the fire started.
According to Persaud, he was just a stone’s throw from the store. When he reached there, the fire had already engulfed the building and there was nothing anyone could do to save it.
Inside were millions of dollars worth of electronics such as flat screen television sets, DVD and CD players, fans, cell phones and clothing, none of which could have been saved.
The fire service was contacted but by the time it arrived on the scene the building was flattened.
Two weeks ago, the young businessman had to endure a break in at the location.
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