Guyana Observer News

Illegal connection leads to electrocution of eight-year-old

Monday, 16 August 2010

- errant homeowner vanishes

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Up to late last evening, the police on the East Coast of Demerara were still trying to apprehend an Annandale home owner whose illegal electricity connection resulted in the electrocution of eight-year- old Mark Anthony August called ‘Bow Foot’. August was electrocuted around midday yesterday after he came into contact with a wire that was illegally connected to a Guyana Power and Light Inc. power line. The wire ran for several yards underground before passing over a canal and then to a house on the Annandale Railway Embankment.

Kaieteur News understands that the eight year old was attempting to cross the shallow canal on his way to take a swim when he came into contact with the wire.
As news of the tragedy spread, angry residents flocked the scene where the lad’s motionless body lay on a dam with the illegal wire in full view.
Lillawattie August, the lad’s mother told the media through tears that she left her son at home yesterday morning and went to work only to receive the shocking news of his death hours later.
She said that her daughter called her and told her to come home because “something important” had happened.
When she arrived she saw a crowd had gathered on the dam not far from her home. Upon checking, she saw her son lying dead on the grass.
She said that her son would normally go to the area where he would sometimes take a dip in the shallow water like many other youths in the area especially since it was during the august vacations.
She, like many other residents of the community, lamented the fact that the illegal wire was clearly visible and employees of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated apparently turned a blind eye to it.
“When you talk about it, they (electricity thieves) ready fuh cuss,” the dead lad’s mother told Kaieteur News.
In fact the owner of the house to which the wire was connected is a relative of her family.
Eyewitnesses said that after the youth was electrocuted, the homeowner and his wife went to the scene and saw the child lying dead, however they disappeared into the cane fields aback of their home and have not been seen since.
“De man and he wife been out hey and see de lil boy dead. He wife bring Limacol and sudden so all ah dem disappear,” a resident said.
Mohan Gildarie Persaud, the dead child’s father was “on the road” when he got the tragic news.

“Me friend come and give me a message dat me son get shock and he bring me with a bicycle hey and me see me son,” Persaud said.
He said that on several occasions, persons who observed the wire would remove it or call the GPL, but as soon as the way is clear, the homeowner would replace it. Several other residents supported Persaud statements.
“Is not one time, is not two time, is not three time people talking bout dis current wire out hey. If is not dat side, he bring it round dis side or he bring it in de trench. Dat is wrong, you can’t do dem thing. Dem thing gat fuh done out hey,” another resident said.
Eventually workers of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated disconnected the illegal wire and according to one of their officials, constant checks will be made to ensure that it is not reconnected.
Many residents spoke of informing crews from the power company about the illegal connection but the workers would say that that was not part of their job.

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