Realising that the walls were closing in on those involved in stealing two huge Guyana Power & Light (GPL) transformers, the receiver of the second one decided that the best thing to do was to dump it on Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt.
Police yesterday said that the US$30,000 transformer was discovered at around 9:30 on Saturday morning after they received a call. It had apparently been dumped on Friday night.
Managing Director of GPL, Bharrat Dindyal yesterday confirmed to Stabroek News that the transformer was indeed the one that was missing and he said except for the missing name plate there seems to be nothing wrong with the transformer.
He feels that because the police were closing in on those who had possession of the item they decided to dump it.
While Dindyal was happy that the item, which was discovered missing last December, was recovered he is worried that there seems to be an organised gang out there stealing, altering and re-selling GPL’s transformers.
Meanwhile, a police source yesterday told Stabroek News that several persons will appear before the court today in connection with the discovery of a similar transformer at the recently opened Regent Multiplex Mall at the corner of Wellington and Regent streets.
The transformers were two of five discovered stolen last December after a Campbell-ville businessman took three smaller transformers to be tested by GPL. It was then discovered that they were actually the property of the power company. The three had been sprayed over.
GPL then contacted the police as it was the only way the businessman could have been questioned about how he came into possession of the transformers.
GPL had done an audit last October and all the transformers of that type it had in stock were said to be intact. But following the discovery, the company rechecked its stock and found that three were missing and two heavy-duty generators had also been stolen.
Information received subsequently led to the transformer being found installed at the new mall.
Dindyal had earlier explained that the transformers were among those the company had on standby to assist in the operation of the pumps during the flooding because in 2005 during the Great Flood transformers were needed and the company had none.
Dindyal said the transformers were part of a “contingency plan” and he said he hoped that whatever actions are taken by the police would send a strong message to those who are involved in the theft, selling and buying of stolen transformers.
Questions have been asked as to why the businessman who took the three transformers to be tested in December was not charged with receiving stolen property. So far, no one has been charged in that case.
Questions have also been asked about the quality of security and the systems in place at GPL considering that two very heavy transformers were spirited out of a GPL location.
