Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force who were hurt while on duty following the fireworks explosions earlier this year have been reassured that the force will continue to offer every assistance to them and their loved ones as they recuperate.
The army on Thursday issued a statement of its commitment to ensure that the welfare and wellbeing of ranks were taken care of after an injured soldier recently spoke with a news outlet.
“The Force acknowledges the stages of recovery of the surviving ranks of the recent explosions and assures those ranks and their loved ones that it will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that they receive the care, treatment, and support that they need,” the statement said.
It was noted that communication procedures have been established to interact with ranks who were injured or hurt while on the job.
The soldiers injured in the recent explosions, the statement assured, have not been Struck Off Strength (SOS) and so are still members of the institution. As such, they are still entitled to benefits and emoluments that apply, as required by law, the force noted.
In addition, the Force assures the citizenry that it has not, and will not abandon these soldiers.
On April 30, three ranks identified as: Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson, 23, of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; Lance Corporal Tooney Peneux, 28, of Orealla Village, Corentyne River; and Private Shaqueel DeHart, 20, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice, were killed following an explosion of pyrotechnics. Two persons were also injured in this explosion.
The army at the time said they were preparing the pyrotechnics for demolition.
A source had told Stabroek News the fireworks were remnants from the batch that was procured for Guyana’s 50th Republic anniversary in February and the soldiers were tasked with destroying it. Fireworks from the same consignment had exploded during handling at the Coast Guard wharf just hours before the republic anniversary on February 22nd, resulting in the death of one soldier and injuries to seven others. The source had said that army officials were aware that the batch of fireworks was from a defective consignment and none of the ranks handling them appeared to have been wearing protective gear.
In the first explosion, which occurred in February, Corporal Seon Rose died and two others: Gordon Cornette of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara; and Terrance Neil of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, were hospitalised.
The GDF in a statement had said four of the ranks were being treated for burns, while the others sustained minor injuries and shock following a “spontaneous combustion,” which occurred during the preparations for the fireworks display.
The findings of the investigations from the Board of Inquiry were never released to the public. This newspaper when it enquired, was told that it is not the army’s policy to release findings of investigations to the public.
