Says GPL Chairman
By Clifford Stanley
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Mr. Winston Brassington yesterday condemned the killing of their Chief Security Officer while he was on duty during a disconnection exercise as an incomprehensible and cruel act.
That man was a good man just doing his work diligently. It is beyond understanding that he should have been treated like that. We are saddened and still shocked by this terrible act and the tragic death of Mr. Clifford Peters,x Mr. Brassington said. In an interview with Chronicle, he stressed though that the GPL will not be daunted by the brutal murder of its Security Chief.

xIndeed, this foul act has strengthened our resolve to stamp out electricity theft.x

He said that the Company has already received a commitment from the Guyana Police Force for increased support during disconnection raids and reiterated that these raids will continue.

Mr. Brassington expressed hope that the tragic death of Mr. Peters will galvanize all law abiding citizens into realizing the painful human consequences of electricity theft and to join with the GPL in ridding the country of this scourge.

He disclosed too that the GPL was doing all it possibly can to help the bereaved family materially and psychologically in their time of grief.

Mr. Clifford Peters of 48 xNx Essequibo Street, Lamaha Gardens, died at Lamaha Park squatting area Georgetown on Monday while supervising the removal of illegal electricity connections.

Reports said that Mr. Peters was executing his duties as a member of the Loss Reduction Field Service team when a member of the team was approached in a hostile manner by two men who had been sitting in the nearby bushes.

The men threatened the worker who then called Peters who intervened. Peters was shot several times by one of the two men during an ensuing argument.

The two men took the CSOxs licensed revolver and ran into the bushes from where they had emerged.

Mr. Peters was later pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Peters had been a Senior Superintendent in the Guyana Police Force for 38 years before joining the GPL as Chief security Officer.

He leaves to mourn his wife Eileen, his mother Edna, six children, two brothers, five sisters and three grandchildren.

Shortly after the fatal shooting Police commenced a massive investigation in the Squatting area.

Up to reporting time last night no arrest had been made.

Other sources said that the death of Mr. Peters highlights the major challenge facing the GPL and the tragic consequence of electricity theft.

The Company last year found 23,000 persons involved in electricity theft.

To date, 100 of the 23,000 have appeared in Court and of that 100, two have been jailed.

There are 22,900 cases pending