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EPA, other Govt. agencies meet to address gas cylinder related explosions
Kaieteur News- Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Guyana Fire Service, and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), met on Friday to discuss a coordinated action plan in response to a series of gas cylinder related explosions that have recently claimed lives.
Govt. agencies at meeting to address gas cylinder related explosions
The meeting was held at the EPA boardroom in Sophia, Georgetown.
In a release issued on Saturday, the EPA stated that although no immediate resolutions were reached regarding the explosions, initial steps were taken toward addressing the issue.
“Discussions focused on sharing findings and actions taken by the respective Agencies with the aim of identifying key strategic actions and engagement of the various stakeholders,” the EPA’s release said.
The agencies agreed on a series of first steps to address the crisis. These include continuing inspections and investigations of relevant facilities and components in accordance with each agency’s mandate. Additionally, the agencies will share their respective reports, findings, and recommendations, which will be reviewed to prepare a comprehensive action plan.
This plan will include safety measures for suppliers, vendors, and consumers. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for January 28, 2025, to further discuss the progress and develop additional measures.
The meeting follows a public call by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo for a thorough investigation into the recent gas cylinder explosions. At a press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “I think this should be a standard thing for the EPA and others, the regulatory bodies have to look at this, the GEA and also the EPA should launch an investigation immediately to look into this.”
Recent months have seen several gas-related explosions, with some victims pointing fingers at a specific gas company for negligence. One of the most devastating incidents occurred on January 4, 2025, when a suspected fuel leak from a Massy gas bottle resulted in a deadly explosion at Lot 194, Fifth Street Foulis, East Coast Demerara.
The explosion claimed the lives of 55-year-old Basmattie Ganpat and her common-law partner, 58-year-old Manu Sukhu. Both victims were admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where Ganpat succumbed to her injuries on January 19, and Sukhu passed away on January 22, 2025.
Post-mortem results confirmed that Ganpat died from infected burns sustained in the explosion. Her funeral took place on Saturday.
(EPA, other Govt. agencies meet to address gas cylinder related explosions)
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