Over two months since ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Artillery Unit were injured in the fireworks explosion at the Coast Guard Wharf, the families of two of the victims are still awaiting the findings from the Board of Inquiry (BOI) set up to investigate the accident.
Eight ranks were assembling fireworks in preparation for the country’s 50th Republic anniversary celebrations when an explosion occurred at the Coast Guard wharf, located at Ruimveldt, on February 22.Of the eight persons, 21331 Corporal Seon Rose, 31, of Friendship, East Coast Demerara passed away in the Intensive Care Unit at around 11.50 am on the following day. He had sustained burns to 90 per cent of his body.
Both of the injured ranks, Gordon Cornette, of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, and Terrence Neil of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, have been discharged and are at home recuperating.
Major Greasels Hinckson, Staff Officer One (ag), told Stabroek News on Monday that the BOI was completed.
However, family members who spoke with Stabroek News have said that they are still awaiting an explanation from the army on what transpired on the fateful day.
Cornette’s sister, Anya Cornette, expressed disappointment that the GDF did not share the findings of the probe.
She told this newspaper the family would “love to know what went wrong, but we don’t know the outcome of the investigation. We are not even sure if it’s completed. Nothing was ever said in that regard.”
The sister explained that her brother’s supervisor from the Artillery Unit along with the Welfare Officer and colleagues had visited him but nothing from the findings of the investigation was revealed.
She further noted that her brother is expected to receive additional medical attention overseas. Anya explained that the GDF is making preparations to have access to the necessary medical care. Gordon needs to undergo a reconstructive surgery due to the severity of the injuries to his hands.
“GDF’s personnel have indicated to me that the process has already been facilitated but I haven’t seen any documentation so that I can pronounce on the overseas medical facility. According to research, the reconstructive surgery that he requires can only be done overseas,” the sister related.
The rank has also been working on his own to improve his mobility and his sister said the GDF has been helpful in transporting him for medical attention whenever necessary.
“The GDF ambulance would do the transporting for hospital visits. The Officer in Charge of medical services, Welfare Officer and the Captain for the Artillery Unit made their contact numbers available if he should need anything,” she said when asked if the GDF is still assisting her brother.
She did, however, express concern that no evaluation was done to determine whether her brother is suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
“As it relates to [PTSD], I don’t know what to say about that because he’s not seeing any specialist at the moment to determine the level of negative impact and doesn’t talk much about the ordeal. All he kept saying is that he wants his hands to be restored to normalcy… No evaluation was done with regards to PTSD, I’m not even sure if that is being considered,” she lamented.
Meanwhile, Neil’s fiancée, Izetta Gilkes, told Stabroek News, that he is also recovering well at home. She noted that while he is active, some of his wounds still need to heal.
Gilkes, while stating that Neil’s family is also awaiting answers from the BOI, said they understand that these are challenging times given the COVID-19 pandemic and human interaction is not highly encouraged.
She is, however, optimistic that the GDF will reach out and provide answers as to what transpired. On April 30, 28-year-old Tooney Peneux, of Orealla Village, Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson, 23, of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam and Private Shaqueel DeHart, 20, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice, died at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri, after a batch of the defective fireworks from the Republic Day consignment exploded as they were preparing to discard it.
The GDF, in a brief statement on the day of the deaths, said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the explosion, which occurred around 9 am at its Arms Store complex at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri.
It said its preliminary investigations revealed that the soldiers were involved in the preparation of the pyrotechnics for demolition when the explosion occurred.
Hinckson said that BOI is still working as it relates to the most recent explosion.
