KC workers unemployed for up to three weeks

Company CEO Imran Khan, summoned workers to a meeting and told them, "With the disaster that has struck us, under the present condition it is impossible to offer jobs while we await new replacement packaging materials... the company just cannot be operational."

Khan told the employees, "It is a very sad day for us and I never thought that after having such a pleasant meeting with you two weeks ago, we will now be in such a predicament where the company would have experienced heavy losses due to a fire in which our warehouse and packaging departments were destroyed."

"The magnitude and extent of this fire was huge and the company suffered tremendous losses," he added.

Khan then said he regretted to inform the workers that, "The destruction had been extensive and this affected inventory, raw materials, finished goods, sales and packaging."

Khan felt that, "This is a test and trial from God Almighty as it is difficult for all of us to comprehend that such a huge loss could have occurred so suddenly and in such a short space of time."

He also thanked those employees who rushed to the scene and rendered whatever assistance they could, as well as the police and firefighters for controlling the crowd that had assembled.

He noted that the fire also destroyed goods that were produced for seven 40-foot containers which would have been exported to US, Canada, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries during the course of this week. He said that officials would not be allowed to enter the compound to clear debris and clean the site until a complete investigation was carried out by the Electrical Inspectorate, police, insurance investigators and the Fire Service Department.

"All efforts will be made by them to determine whether the fire was due to an electrical problem, accidental or arson," he added.

KC Confectionery, which has been in existence for over 80 years, and which started off as a cottage industry, stated that due to the extent of the damage, they did not have material for wrapping products; material for packaging, cannot produce items for sale on the local and international markets.

Khan explained that replacement wrapping could be shipped within three to four weeks and discussions were being held with local manufacturers for assistance to ensure the company could be up and running in the shortest possible time.