Three weeks after fire completely destroyed the multi million dollar Gafoors Complex at Houston, Proprietor Sattaur Gafoor is reporting that the hardware business is 60% back in operation.

During a visit to the Houston location, scores of workers were seen attending to customers while Mr. Gafoor spoke to this news entity in high spirits.

He said he remains optimistic about rebuilding the business and noted that he has finally been able to put a figure to his losses which he calculates to be well above $4 billion.

Mr. Gafoor explained that with the exception of 15 workers, the more than 500 are actively employed by the company.

Those 15 employees who are awaiting the importation of specialized equipment before returning to work are receiving 75% of their salary, he stated.

Within 24 hours of the the May 9 fire that destroyed the Gafoors bond and main complex building at Houston, workers were being relocated to the nearby unoccupied building which now houses the store and office.

Mr. Gafoor said there was no air conditioning, furniture or computers and he literally had to start from scratch.

He said too that he is yet to receive confirmation from his insurance providers on whether he can move into the burnt building but expects that as soon as he receives the go ahead, the actual rebuilding will commence.

Efforts have already started to do the construction of steel work needed for building. “If we get permission within another two or three weeks by end of August we should be where we were prior to the fire,” the optimistic Mr. Gafoor said.

He said he intends to continue to build his business and find ways improve and employ more people.
An accident is believed to have been the cause of the fire.

The May 9 afternoon blaze started in a section of the bond and quickly engulfed the entire bond area before it headed towards the main complex. More than 500 workers were immediately displaced.

The Gafoors company is a household name in Guyana with over 60 years of service in the hardware industry.  (by Kurt Campbell)