An explosion this morning at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Camp Stephenson Base, Timehri has left three soldiers dead and two injured.
The deceased soldiers are 24949 Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson, 23, of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; 23564 Lance Corporal Tooney Peneux, 28, of Orealla Village, Corentyne River and 25340 Private Shaqueel Deheart, 20, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice.
A statement from the GDF said that it is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding an explosion which occurred around 9 am at its Arms Store complex at Timehri.
Preliminary investigations have so far revealed that the soldiers were involved in the preparation of pyrotechnics for demolition when the incident occurred.
The injured rank is currently receiving medical care.
The explosion follows another at the GDF Coast Guard base on February 22 this year in which 21331 Corporal Seon Rose, 31, sustained fatal injuries and several others were injured. They were at the time preparing fireworks for the celebration of the anniversary of the Republic later that day.
A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency follows:
Message of Condolence on the death of three GDF soldiers
Georgetown, Guyana – (April 30, 2020) His Excellency David Granger, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is saddened at the death of three Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers.
The trio died this morning following an incident at the Force’s Base Camp Stephenson Arm Store Complex, Timehri, where they were involved in the preparation of pyrotechnics for demolition.
The soldiers are 24949 Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson, 23, of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; 23564 Lance Corporal Tooney Peneux, 28, of Orealla Village, Corentyne River and 25340 Private Shaqueel Deheart, 20, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice.
Nicholson joined the Force on 2017.06.07, Peneux on 2015.03.21 and Deheart on 2018.03.01.
Two soldiers, 17939 Sergeant Quincy Threlfall, 43, and 23867 Lance Corporal Paul Peters, 29, were injured during the incident. Sergeant Threlfall is currently receiving medical care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) while Lance Corporal Peters was treated at Base Camp Stephenson.
The GDF has launched a Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
President Granger expresses heartfelt sympathy to the relatives and friends of the three soldiers and wishes the injured ranks a speedy recovery.