-relatives bemoan way in which company is handling matter
A GPL worker is now home on sick leave after he fell into the Berbice River while working on the Turkish power ship which is set to supply 36 megawatts (MW) of power to the utility in hopes of ending the ongoing blackout situation.
According to information gathered, last Thursday evening, the employee who is attached to the Canefield Power Plant located in East Canje Berbice was leaving the ship when the incident occurred.
Stabroek News was told, that the small speed boats were hired to transport workers to and from the ship, and as the worker attempted to enter the small boat the current moved it resulting in him falling into the Berbice River.
Two of the boat operators quickly worked together to rescue the man, something he is extremely grateful for since he does not know how to swim.
Relatives explained that one of the boat operators who knows how to swim jumped into the water to rescue the worker, who lost both personal and company belongings which were on him at the time.
Stabroek News was told that both the electricity company and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) were informed of the incident.
The worker’s relatives yesterday relayed that the matter is not being taken seriously noting that after he fell into the water he informed two senior persons who were present at the location. However, instead of offering any sort of assistance they laughed off the matter.
At that stage, the worker, who was soaked, drove himself home after which he was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he received overnight treatment.
Meanwhile, relatives of the man relayed that workers attached to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Canefield location were instructed to report to work on the vessel which is anchored in the Berbice River.
The workers from the System Control Department without prior notice were told that they had to work on the ship alongside the foreign workers, and when the workers raised concerns about safety and other issues this was brushed aside by management, the relatives noted.
Following the incident, relatives said that about six workers from the System Control Department refused to go back on the ship resulting in GPL reportedly taking workers from other sections of the Canefield Plant to work on the ship.
The family is calling on the company to look into the matter and offer support to the worker who is off of work currently.
