Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has called on the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory bodies to launch an investigation into gas-bottle-related incidents.
His statement follows the tragic death of a Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD) couple who succumbed to severe burns sustained during a January 4, gas-bottle related explosion. The couple has been identified as 58-year-old Manu Sukhu, who succumbed on Wednesday evening and his wife Basmattie Ganpat who died on Sunday morning.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dr. Jagdeo said, “On the gas bottle, I think this should be a standard thing for the EPA and others, they should have, I saw somebody sent me something. But the regulatory bodies have to look at this, the GEA and also the EPA should launch an investigation immediately. I would find out if they are doing that.”
The Vice President’s comments come amid growing public concerns about the safety of cooking gas products which have resulted in several incidents involving critical injuries to consumers and severe damage to property during the use of a particular brand of cooking gas product.
Earlier this month, the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) launched an investigation. The CCAC had said, “Following the first two official complaints filed by the affected persons, we have commenced our investigations which will engage the relevant industry experts to make assessments and recommendations based on their findings. The CCAC intends to pursue these investigations until there is redress.”
