President Granger saddened at passing of GDF soldiers

—BOI launched into incident

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, April 30, 2020

His Excellency President David Granger has expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the relatives and friends of three Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers who died this morning.

The soldiers lost their lives this morning after an explosion occurred at the Arms Store Complex at Timehri, at Camp base Stephenson around 09:00 hours. They were involved in the preparation of pyrotechnics for demolition.

The soldiers are 24949 Lance Corporal Kevon Nicholson, 23, of Levi Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; 23564 Lance Corporal Tooney Peneux, 28, of Orealla Village, Corentyne River and 25340 Private Shaqueel Deheart, 20, of Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice.

Two other soldiers were also injured. They are 17939 Sergeant Quincy Threlfall, 43, and 23867 Lance Corporal Paul Peters, 29.

Sergeant Threlfall is currently receiving medical care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) while Lance Corporal Peters was treated at Base Camp Stephenson.

The Head of State wished the injured ranks a speedy recovery.

A Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the circumstances surrounding the incident has been launched by the GDF.

Earlier this year, a soldier lost his life and several injured in a fireworks explosion while preparing to celebrate Guyana’s Jubilee Republic anniversary in February.