-victims of latest incident remain hospitalised
The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce says it has launched an investigation following critical injuries to consumers and severe damage to property during the use of a particular brand of cooking gas product.
The latest incident has left an East Coast couple in critical condition at the GPHC.
The CCAC said in a press release yesterday said it had taken note of the recent incidents and extended its compassion to those affected even as it engages them privately.
Basmatie Ganpat, 55, and Manoo Sookoo, 58, remain hospitalized in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s (GPHC’s) Burn Care Unit, following an explosion involving a cooking gas product at their Foulis, East Coast Demerara residence at about 5:45 am on Saturday.
“We wish to refer and remind suppliers of goods and services that Part X, Section 78 of the Consumer Affairs Act No. 13 of 2011 requires that a person shall not: (a) Supply consumer goods or services which fail to comply with the general safety requirements; (b) Offer or agree to supply goods or services that are not safe; or (c) Expose or possess unsafe goods or goods or services. According to the CCAC press release, a person who contravenes this subsection of the Act commits an offence.
The CCAC further stated that following the first two official complaints filed by the affected persons, it had commenced investigations which will engage the relevant industry experts to make assessments and recommendations based on their findings. The CCAC said they intend to pursue these investigations until there is redress. Consumers were urged to exercise the greatest caution and safety protocols during the use of cooking gas products. Consumers are also reminded to reach out to the CCAC on its website: ccac.gov.gy or WhatsApp (592)-625-0557 if there are any complaints.
Ganpat’s daughter, Sandhya Goolram, yesterday told Stabroek News that the couple’s condition continues to worsen. The doctor, according to Goolram, indicated her mother and Manoo are only allowed saline and protein shakes.
“We are hoping for the best but they are not looking good. So far, no signs of improvement. Mommy just crying she can hardly move. My stepfather moving a little but mommy has more burn than him. She keep saying she might not make it”, the daughter related.
Ambulance
In an interview with Stabroek News on Sunday, Goolram, explained that when she arrived at the scene on Saturday morning, her stepfather was already in the ambulance, while neighbours were assisting her mother out of the yard. Goolram detailed her parents’ account of what transpired when they ventured into the kitchen on Saturday morning. They stated that they could both smell gas in the kitchen, and as a result, her stepfather went to open the door while her mother turned on the stove which set off an explosion. Goolram said her mother was attempting to use a two-burner, table-top gas stove. She said that while her mother assumed that the (stove) knob was probably turned on before use, the (gas bottle) regulator was off at the time. The couple lived in a two-storey wooden and concrete house. The upper flat contained the living room and bedroom while the lower flat housed the kitchen.
Goolram said that Ganpat and Sookoo were easily identified after being admitted to the hospital, but their appearance had changed, as their skin had become black. Goolram said that Ganpat’s hair was described as burnt steel wool, and this was a result of the explosion. According to Goolram, Massy Gas officials informed her that the bottles were tested and proven to be okay. The officials further told the family that the couple had been using a faulty regulator. “They said that it was a Guy-Gas head and not a Massy regulator,” she revealed.
Stabroek News visited the scene where the incident occurred and found that the lower flat which had housed the kitchen was devastated. The concrete walls were shattered, the pillars had shifted and some were broken. The roof that covered the living room area had blown away. Kitchen equipment, utensils, and other household items were broken.
Chief Executive Officer of Tagman Media, Alex Graham, who manages the communications aspect of Massy Gas, told Stabroek News on Sunday that the bottles did not explode and they were in good condition. “It has nothing to do with us or a gas cylinder exploding. The lady left a burner on, on her stove. She came down to make breakfast. She and her husband were smelling the gas but she still turned on the fire and ‘boom’ because they had a concentration of gas in a sealed room,” Graham said. Fire Chief Gregory Wickham told Stabroek News that the knob of the stove was left on and a high concentration of gas had filled the room. As the woman lit the stove, he concluded, an explosion occurred.
There have been four other incidents with Massy cylinders in recent months.
On Christmas Day, Tuschen resident Annalisa Boodwah was left deeply traumatized after her 20-lb Massy Gas bottle caught fire around 11 am.
Detailing the events leading up to the fire, Boodwah said, “I light the stove, well I waited for the stove to heat up a little nah, when I not using the gas, I turn it back on when I ready to use it, so I turn it on, light the stove, wait for the stove to heat up then put in the cake. My phone rang at the same time so I went to answer the phone. By the time I answer the call and walk back and go to the kitchen, when I reach now I see the whole top of the bottle full of fire, so like I done start panic because like it’s a brand new gas and I thinking if I go down there now it will blow up and I will get myself damage so I run out back and stand up by the kitchen door and dash water from a distance but it didn’t outing it just keep raising raising all the time. That is when I decide to come out and holler for help. This neighbour over that side come out and he take a spade and push the bottle out and throw sand on it. The thing run reach up to me ceiling.”
On December 17th, 2024 a family in Little Abary, Region Five grappled with the aftermath of a 20-lb Massy gas bottle explosion that rocked their home leaving them without basic necessities, and seeking answers from the supplier.
On November 30th, 2024 Stabroek News reported that a life-threatening situation was narrowly avoided in a Better Hope home on November 29 thanks to the quick thinking and calm actions of Necolese Alexander, a career ICU nurse.
On August 29th, 2024 Massy Gas said it was ready to aid in the probe of an explosion of a 20-lb cylinder that allegedly belonged to it. The notice referred to an incident at a home on 1st August, 2024. It said that it had visited the family in question and had expressed sympathies to the husband of the occupant who was injured.
To further promote safety, Massy has since said it has launched a social media campaign aimed at raising awareness about the safe use of cooking gas. Awareness and adherence to safety practices are critical in preventing incidents and ensuring customer safety, it said. For further assistance, consumers can contact Massy Gas Products at 233-2728 or the hotline 600-0839.