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Parika Market destroyed by fire
Kaieteur News – The Parika Market was on Friday afternoon completely destroyed by fire. According to reports, the fire started at around 15:30h.
Drone shots, multiple photographs and cell phone recorded videos depicted a devastating scene. The entire structure located in close proximity to the Parika Stelling was engulfed in a huge ball of fire.
The blaze reportedly spread quickly and destroyed stalls located at the front of the market and even those that were opposite.
Almost an hour before the blaze was reported, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that, the rehabilitation of the Parika Market, the market which is usually a hive of activity on Sundays, will be completed this year.
Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn said that four fire trucks were dispatched to the scene and that firefighters were able contain the blaze from spreading further but could not save the Parika Market that was reportedly under rehabilitation at the time. Commander Siwnarine also echoed the Minister’s statements.
He told Kaieteur News “The entire structure is on the ground, the entire structure is on the ground”.
No injuries were reported but up to Friday evening fire fighters were on the ground trying to completely extinguish the blaze.
The offloading of the Essequibo Vessels, MV Sandaka Kanawan and Malawi were reportedly halted to facilitate their efforts.
An overhead view of the destruction.
It is unclear at this time as to what might have caused the fire but according Minister Benn it is suspected that a welding spark from ongoing construction works at the market might have gotten into contact with flammable materials and ignited the blaze.
“We understand but we will have to clarify later that there was welding going on in the building and that the sparks fell down unto flammable substances,” Benn said.
Firefighters containing the blaze
Vendors who had to run for their lives when the fire erupted confirmed this too.
One vendor told Kaieteur News that some men were “doing some welding at the market when the spark fell on a tarpaulin and it start bun”.
The vendors alleged that no quick attention was paid to the tarpaulin and spark caused a “big fire” that destroyed their stalls and all of the merchandise inside.
Chairman of the Parika Nieghbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Jaideo Sookhoo, described the destruction to the market as “tremendous”.
“Over 160 registered stalls were in the market including those that were at the side of the road”, the NDC chairman told Kaieteur News.
He assured that systems will be put in place to facilitate all of vendors who suffered heavy losses and related that the regional officials are presently discussing with the Minister (Benn) possible alternatives for those affected so that they continue to earn their livelihood.
Meanwhile Benn said, “We are intended to meet with those (vendors) who claim they have losses and make listings for consideration an evaluation and assessment and then we will take it from there”.
The Parika Market has been around for many years and the government recently decided to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into rehabilitating and enlarging the vending facility. Reports suggested that the plan is to replace the old wooden building with a steel and concrete structure.
Minister Robeson Benn at the scene of the fire
Some $259.2 Million were already expended to complete the phase one and two of the project. Some of the works were done by Tanco Steel Fabrication and Construction Inc.
The project was presently in its third phase of construction and some $690M were set aside for its completion but Friday’s fire proved to be a major setback because the government will have to construct the market from scratch.
It is unclear if the same contractor was working on the Market at the time of the fire.
The Parika market enhancement initiative would have seen infrastructural development, as well as the addition of a canopy walkway, among other upgrades.
The reconstruction of the markets was part of a broader initiative to improve and modernise the conditions of markets across the country, while encouraging business for vendors.
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