The family of a boy who was electrocuted in May of this year has filed a complaint with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) against the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the matter is to come up for public hearing later this month.
A PUC notice in today’s Guyana Chronicle said a complaint was filed by Haris Chandra Balkarran of Lot 17 A, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara with respect to the electrocution of his son Satyanand Balkarran “who was killed apparently when he came into contact with a galvanized zinc fence which was allegedly energized by a GPL wire”.
The notice said that the hearing is scheduled for Monday, October 27 at 13.30 at the Cara Lodge, Quamina Street.
In May, Chief Executive Officer of GPL Bharat Dindyal had told Stabroek News that the company was working with its legal advisers to determine whether it is liable in the case of the 10-year-old.
Dindyal had said the company along with its legal advisers was putting together all the needed information “If they think we are liable to the family, they will then determine the degree of liability,” Dindyal had said.
He had said that the company’s legal advisers would also suggest compensation if need be and would then contact the family of the deceased boy.
In relation to the legality of the electricity connection that led to the child’s electrocution at Goed Fortuin, Dindyal said then that he did not wish to offer a further statement on the matter. Dindyal had earlier told this newspaper that he believed the wire was an illegal connection.
Chand Balkaran, the grandmother of the boy had said then that whether the family would accept compensation or not, would depend on the size or the type of compensation.
She added that they are disappointed since GPL has not contacted the family since the incident.
“We didn’t get a letter, a lil sympathy, nothing. All them keep saying is that the wire was an illegal connection,” Balkaran said.
She reiterated that the family had nothing to do with the connection. She added that GPL has since removed the wire.
