The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated has condemned what it described as a dangerously negligent act by RZND Concrete and Delivery Company, after a concrete pump was extended over a high-voltage transmission line along the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Railway Embankment on the East Coast of Demerara.
According to GPL, the incident occurred at approximately 08:15 hrs and involved the company’s 69,000-volt transmission line that links the Sophia and Good Hope substations. The line is a critical component of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System, supplying electricity to Regions Four and Five.
GPL warned that the reckless positioning of the concrete pump posed an imminent risk of catastrophic failure to the national grid. The utility noted that a single miscalculation could have caused widespread outages, affecting tens of thousands of customers across the two regions.
Beyond service disruption, GPL stressed that the situation created a serious threat to human life, with the potential for severe injuries or fatalities to workers, nearby residents, and damage to surrounding property. The incident also carried significant financial implications for all stakeholders, the company said.
As a result of the breach, GPL immediately alerted the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which detained representatives of RZND Concrete and Delivery Company. The Ministry of Labour was also notified due to what GPL described as a blatant disregard for established safety protocols.
In a statement, GPL urged all contractors and members of the public to exercise vigilance when working near electrical infrastructure and to comply with industry safety standards. The utility reminded citizens that it can be contacted at 226-2600 before any work is carried out near power lines, noting that a simple precaution can prevent disaster.
GPL further made it clear that it will not tolerate reckless or dangerous practices and warned that any party found liable will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
