- police probe ongoing
The stolen Guyana Power & Light (GPL) transformer that was removed from the Regent Multiplex Mall on Sunday was one of several the company had on standby to assist in the operation of the pumps during the flooding the country is now experiencing, GPL General Manager Bharrat Dindyal said yesterday.
Dindyal confirmed yesterday that the transformer, which was removed from the mall located at the corner of Wellington and Regent streets, belongs to GPL. The mall was opened in December.
According to Dindyal, the transformer was part of a “contingency plan” which was in place to assist in operating the many pumps that are needed during flooding in Guyana. He recalled that during the 2005 Great Flood, there were situations where transformers were needed and the company had none in stock. To ensure that this did not occur again, the company purchased the transformers and had them on standby. “We had them sitting there for a specific purpose,” Dindyal said. He gave the example of the company having to provide a transformer to help operate the Victoria, East Coast Demerara pump.
Meanwhile, the police yesterday said that they are still conducting investigations into the matter and there was no word on when charges were going to be laid against those found culpable. A senior police source on Sunday had said that the police had launched an investigation into the discovery and that the owner of the mall was among four persons questioned. “…persons would be charged, we are conducting the investigation and it has been confirmed that the transformer belongs to GPL,” the police source had said.
Stabroek News had visited the mall on Sunday and observed that a large hole had been gouged in one of the concrete walls so that the transformer could be removed; workmen were preparing to move it. GPL employees were waiting with a vehicle to retrieve the transformer, while a mason was on hand to reseal the wall.
The transformer being moved
A visit to the mall yesterday revealed that it was being powered by a generator and it was business as usual with all the stores open.
On Sunday, when the owner of the mall, Ganesh Ramlall, called this newspaper after several attempts were made to contact him on his cell number, he denied that a stolen transformer had been purchased. He further said “if anything end up in the Stabroek New you all guh know…” When asked why the transformer had to be removed from the mall he said that it had to be taken to Sophia to be tested.
According to Dindyal, the transformer was one of the five that were discovered missing from the company’s Sophia location some time late last year. He said GPL had done an audit in October last year and all of the transformers were intact. However, some time after that, a city business man took three transformers to the company for them to be tested. These transformers had been sprayed over and the GPL employees doing the testing were suspicious. On checking, they discovered that the transformers belonged to GPL.
He said the transformers were seized and the matter was reported to the police. From all indications no one has been charged in that matter as the police are still investigating.
Dindyal said following that discovery the company decided to do another audit and discovered that two heavy-duty transformers were also missing. He said the three that were taken to the company to be tested were three small ones, but the one that was found at the mall and the other one that is still missing are the heavy duty ones.
Dindyal would not say how GPL received the tip about the transformer at the mall, as he said such information should not be made public.
Asked what happens when someone is opening a new business, Dindyal said the normal procedure sees the customer approaching GPL and seeking its service. GPL will then inspect the building and inform the customer about what is needed. If the power company has the transformer in stock, it would be sold to the customer. If not, the customer is given the specifications of the transformer and would be required to purchase it from another source. In the case of the mall, its owner would have been told that GPL could not supply the requisite transformer, not because it did not have any in stock, but because those in stock were to be used during the flood if needed.
Dindyal said there would have been some complicity with GPL employees, as heavy-duty machines and trucks would have had to be used to remove the transformers; the trucks would have had to drive through the gates that are guarded by the city police. When questioned on whether anyone had been fired following the discovery, Dindyal said GPL was awaiting the end of the police investigation. He said he hoped whatever action was taken by the police in the matter would send a “very strong message” to those involved in such activities.
“We are dealing with a society that has a very dark side to it, corruption has touched every facet of society,” Dindyal commented yesterday.
Last February, GPL had said that three new transformers were vandalized and that intelligence had resulted in ten others being found at a Middle Road, La Penitence scrap dealer which resulted in several arrests. Others were also said to be missing.
In a press release, the company had said it continued to be alarmed at the theft of its T&D equipment and in the past month it has noted that three transformers in the Kingston area that served the Government Food and Drug/Analyst Department were illegally de-energised and vandalized. The company had said only bits of metal remained of the transformers as thieves had carted off the shell, core and windings.
The company had said that it took as long as 60 weeks to receive replacement transformers from manufacturers. It had said too the “costs for replacing these transformers are astronomical, and continue to place a heavy burden on the company’s finances.”
A few days later the company had fingered a gang that it said was linked to the theft of transformers and other metal-based materials from its Sophia depot.
“We have discovered the whole operation. We have identified the group and we know who the individuals are. They are on the run from the police and some of them have actually abandoned their homes at Sophia,” Dindyal had said at the time.
It’s funny how things do turn around, sometimes with positive effects and others with the opposite. I remember vividly in December when the mall opened someone made a comment about the business people in Guyana and their new found riches. Another took offence and said that that particular business man was clean and was in business for over twenty years.
I guess everyone is clean until they are caught in a scam, fraud or what others might call normal Guyanese business practice.
Who laff last does laff the best.
You know what is theft? GPL charging the same tariffs for electricity when oil is at US$40 a barrel as it was when oil was US$150 a barrel.
There is no proof that the buyer is responsible for stealing the transformer…or helping. There is, however, proof that he is stupid. If someone tells you they have a transformer to sell, then runs and comes back with one, wouldn’t you want to verify the ownership of such a high powered equipment? Would you want to see documents showing proof of ownership?
And let’s be really, really honest with each other — How many of you (who grew up in Guyana) have NEVER bought a stolen item? Doesn’t matter how big or small the item was. Remember, be honest.
I have NEVER bought a stolen item!
Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! I neva buy a tiefin’ ting and I neva gie bribe….NEVA!
I never bought a stolen item but suffered big losses from break and enter in Guyana, when I reported the matter with info on the person who transported my property the police arrested him and settled the matter and had me visiting the station daily to check on progress. I eventually give up because I find myself visiting the station as though I am the accused.
Maybe is is Kustom, custom to buy stolen property.
I had never done such. what about you? Remember the law is the law and it’s there for purpose.If the theft has nobody to buy his stolen goods then mabe he will need to find a new occupation.
Jail him for receiving stolen goods…….. the house of cards is tumbling down…….ooi ya yeah.
Vendor to mall owner???…… lets hears it for the rags to riches business folk in Guyana.
Guyana needs to host the “Corruption Oscars” where they will win for the following films, ‘Most corrupt State’ ‘All the Presidents Corrupt men’ ‘Just Cronies” “Nepotism at its best” “When People dare to Speak” ” The Cocaine Shipping Chroncles” and many more……………coming soon at a theatre in PRADOVILLE.
The justice system and jail is only for the poor people in Guyana, I said this many times so fugure it out or we can wait to see what will happen.
Why all the fuss? Instead of prosecuting people for thievery the government should start awarding prizes for the most innovative ideas of how to rob the Guyanese public of their remaining wealth without facing legal consequences. And no one should question the ability of the heads of their ministeries and departments as they are all doctors of something or the other; yet they have no idea of how to implement simple security measures to safeguard against unlawful removal of government property.
THIS IS JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL IN GUYANA.
What a crying shame….what a bloody pity.
At some point the shit must hit the fan and then we will see “scatteration” (Guyanese parlance). It is a good thing that many, if not all, of them will not be able to enter Canada or the USA as their visas have already been withdrawn.
May the religious forces help Guyana.
…we givin the PPP led govt early WARNING !… if nothing is done to clean de slate now ,, with all the mountain of evidence of corruption by one and all it is now time to tell ALL at the PPP !…..
if nothing is done to show how serious y’all r abt this “clean de slate” den come 2011 staat foh pack yuh bags caz de journey gon end den !…..
Micheal, bro go back a few days under I did not write that letter, and see wa dah steve brother said, check the last line.a d thing dah.Man them fellas got this thing lock.
You an who gon do de deed fuh end de journey???
Kustom:
Not everyone who grew up in Guyana has a criminal mind. I cannot speak for others but only for myself and I tell you that I have never bought anything that was stolen, and have never myself stolen anything from anyone. All that I have was gained lawfully and in some cases painfully..e.g working at three jobs and going to university at nights to earn my initial degree. After that things became easier for me and I was able to achieve more with less effort. None of what I did included robbing anyone or purchasing anything that had been stolen, and I did not go on the get-rich-quick track like many in Guyana are now doing. In my retirement I now give more than I receive and still have no thoughts of robbing anyone or acquiring anything stolen.
Maybe you should offer an apology to those Guyanese who do not fit the mold that you have suggested in your blog.
Have a great day.
“We are dealing with a society that has a very dark side to it, corruption has touched every facet of society,” Dindyal commented yesterday.
Just like the big drug fishes with connections, this case will boil down to low gravy & nothing will come out of it. To save face the mall owner might get a GY$500.00 fine & sent home. Ohhh but if it were me, I’d be on ALL the local forms of media & I’d be sentenced to quite a long time in the lockdown. It’s just the way in the “Land of many Waters” it just flows rougher in some areas & floods out certain folks while safeguards are in place for “others”
gpl inside job…clever sales men there…they didnt thief the ting…they were renting it to the stupid man to run his mall……