On every December 18th in the preceding four years, Tooney Peneux’s family, particularly his parents, looked forward to him returning home to spend Christmas. This year, they only had their memories of him, his father Laddy Peneux said.
Tooney was one of four Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks who lost their lives following a pyrotechnic explosion on April 30th at Base Camp Stephenson, at Timehri, East Bank Demerara.
After the explosion, the families of Peneux, Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson, 23, of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Private Shaqueel DeHart, 20, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice, and Seon Rose of Friendship, East Coast Demerara, have been calling on the GDF to provide a detailed explanation of the events leading up to their deaths. It was the second of two such explosions.
Laddy Peneux related that Christmas is different this year for his family.
“He always calls and tell me I am coming home on the 18th, because they get pay on the 15th of December and when he comes, he buys so much stuff for his mom and the family… he brings groceries, bags with apples and grapes and make sure we have a good Christmas…,” a tearful Peneux recalled.
He pointed out that the mood of the family has become sadder since December 18 has passed and his son didn’t return home.
“That is just a memory for us now and it is hard because we know he will never come back. His mother still hasn’t gotten over it and we are trying our best to take care of her because the two of them were always so close,” he said as he composed himself.
According to Peneux, the GDF’s Welfare Division has been in contact with the families as they process compensation packages. However, he believes that if the family is made aware of the findings of the Board of Inquiry (BoI) reports they will be able to have some closure.
“Recently we submitted the documents they ask for but the legal officer said we have to wait for it to be processed through the court now. But we still want to know what happened and how it happened… the officers are not telling us anything,” he lamented.
The father noted that from what they have observed, his son and his colleagues were not properly equipped at the time and GDF should provide answers about his death.
“You gotta say my son die with his boots on because there was no other protective piece of clothing on him… We are waiting for answers and we know the BoIs are completed,” he said.
The father also stressed that while in opposition, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had called for a thorough investigation but since he has taken up a seat in the ruling Government nothing has been said to the families on the events that led to the explosions.
The Guyana Defence Force in October had assured that ranks who were injured while on duty during the fireworks explosions earlier this year that the force will continue to offer every assistance to them and their loved ones as they recuperate.
“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 while on the job.
In addition, the Force assured the citizenry that it has not, and will not, abandon these soldiers, the statement added.
A source had told Stabroek News the fireworks were remnants from the batch that was procured for Guyana’s 50th Republic anniversary celebrations in February and the soldiers were tasked with destroying them. Fireworks from the consignment had exploded during handling at the Coast Guard wharf 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 on February 22nd at the GDF’s Coast Guard headquarters at Ruimveldt during preparations for a Republic Day celebration display, 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.
‘Never got an answer’
Meanwhile, Cornette, a survivor of the first explosion remains at home recuperating and is thankful for life and the opportunity to send Christmas with his family.
“I think his plans for this Christmas is to make it his brightest one yet because this one he’s most grateful for life and all of us just happy to have him with us,” his sister Anya Cornette told Stabroek News when the family was contacted.
She related that he has been a trooper and has been showing great improvements as he has adjusted to his new life.
Gordon had suffered severe burns following the explosion. A few months ago, he started receiving counselling virtually and is still continuing with the treatment.
However, the family like others, are still awaiting an explanation from the GDF. The sister pointed out that questions are continuously being asked but remain unanswered.
“Unless we can correct those broken systems, then we will forever be going around in a circle. I asked about it but never got an answer,” she lamented.
Nonetheless, she said the family is grateful for the support the army has been showing towards his recovery but emphasised that the family still needs answers concerning the accident.
Stabroek News efforts to contact other affected families were futile as phone calls went unanswered.
