Foulis gas explosion: Hospitalised couple improving amid investigations

The East Coast Demerara (ECD) couple injured in the gas explosion at Foulis on January 5 is showing signs of recovery, though they remain hospitalised.
Fifty-five-year-old Basmattie Ganpat,55 and her common-law partner, 58-year-old Manu “Paul” Sukhu, sustained severe burns in the incident that destroyed their home.
According to their daughter, Sandyha Goolram, her parents are improving but remain emotionally and physically fragile.

“I went to visit them yesterday [Saturday] and they’re doing better than before, but my mother is still traumatised. She’s in shock and has been talking different things. However, the doctor said they are coming around but they just need to help themselves,” Goolram explained.
The family said they have not yet received definitive answers regarding the cause of the explosion.
Massy (Guyana) Ltd., the supplier of the gas cylinder, initially reported that the bottle was intact during inspections; now new claims suggest the stove knob may have been left on.
However, the family contends that this was not mentioned during Massy’s visit to the site. Golram said technicians involved in the investigation reportedly said they could not determine the exact cause.
“We haven’t heard from them or the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) since the incident to know definitely what went wrong. But when the persons from Massy came, they said that the bottles and everything seem intact and they do not know what might have caused the explosion”, the woman said.

Amid growing public concern about the safety of gas cylinders, Massy Gas Products CEO, Augustus Harris has sought to reassure customers that the cylinders are not to blame for the reported incidents.
Harris emphasised that none of the fires reported involved actual gas cylinder explosions. Instead, he attributed these incidents to other factors, such as faulty or substandard fittings and hoses.
“First thing I’d like to say is there have been no gas cylinder explosions. What we’ve seen are fires caused by other factors, not ruptured cylinders,” Harris clarified in an interview with Guyana Times.
Harris explained that fires involving gas cylinders often stem from issues like inferior-quality regulators and hoses or stove knobs being left in the “on” position.
He also highlighted the rigorous safety standards employed by Massy to ensure the integrity of its products, including a combination of manual and automated leak detection tests.
Each cylinder undergoes a requalification process, during which it is pressure-tested to confirm it is fit for service.
Harris maintained that Massy has been implementing these safety measures for over 30 years, which he said underscores the reliability of the company’s products.
Senior Production Manager Ryan Basdeo also detailed how regulators should be properly attached to gas cylinders to prevent leaks or other issues.

He emphasised the importance of checking for cracks in the rubber seal, ensuring the regulator is in the “off” position before attaching it, and using only Massy-approved fittings.
Harris noted that the company supplies approximately 300,000 gas cylinders to households across Guyana, which he said explains why Massy is frequently mentioned in such incidents, given its market share.
The explosion at Foulis is one of several incidents involving Massy’s gas cylinders in recent months.
In August, a fire at a Herstelling grocery shop caused third-degree burns to the owner and destroyed the business.
Similar incidents in Better Hope and Little Abary caused significant property damage and injuries.
While Massy has expressed sympathy for affected families and is actively campaigning for the use of proper regulators and fittings, residents remain concerned.
For the Ganpat family, the uncertainty surrounding the cause of the explosion and the trauma of losing their home has been overwhelming. The house was completely destroyed, leaving the family displaced and with nothing but questions about how to move forward.