In wake of deadly blasts, Massy pushes regulator trade-in campaign

Sep 25, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – Amid a string of explosions of gas bottles, Massy Gas Products Guyana Ltd. has launched what it called a Regulator Trade-In Promotion, reinforcing the company’s commitment to household safety and the responsible use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

The first trade-in activity was held last Friday in Sophia, followed by a second event on Sunday, September 21 at La Penitence Market, Massy Gas said in a press release. These events marked the start of a nationwide initiative aimed at encouraging households to replace non-recommended regulators with the certified Massy Gas–branded Kosan Jumbo Regulators.

According to the company, the initiative is designed to reduce the risk of leaks and accidents in domestic settings by removing unsafe and unapproved regulators from homes across the country. “Safety is a central value of our company,” said Augustus Harris, the CEO of Massy Gas. Harris added that “By introducing this programme, we are not only providing safer equipment but also demonstrating our continued commitment to protecting families across Guyana.”

The campaign targets 1,000 households in Regions 3, 4, 5, and 6, and will continue until all available regulators have been distributed.

To participate residents should look out for the Massy Gas Trade-In Tent when it arrives in their community. Participants are required to bring their old regulator, along with a valid form of identification and proof of address. Once verified, participants can exchange their old regulator for a new Kosan Jumbo Regulator free of charge.

The Trade-In Tent will continue its journey in the coming weeks with stops scheduled at Leonora, Mon Repos, and Port Mourant Markets, among other locations. Massy Gas is urging households to act promptly. CEO Harris, in his appeal, said, “This is an opportunity to safeguard your home and family by replacing potentially dangerous equipment. We encourage all customers to take advantage of the promotion when the Trade-In Tent visits their community.” Updates on locations and schedules will be available on Massy Gas’ social media pages.

Only recently, a gas explosion in ‘C’ Field Sophia claimed the life of a 36-year-old mother of four, Harriet Ray, while leaving her 13-year-old son, Jaden Jarod, bedridden and in severe pain.

The incident occurred on September 4, 2025, while Ray was cooking at her roadside food shop. Both she and her son suffered serious burns and were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where Ray died. On the day of the incident, Massy Gas in a statement said it had conducted an initial assessment and stated that the LPG cylinder was intact, showed no signs of leaks, and still had a full rubber seal. The company claimed that the explosion was caused by a non-recommended and defective regulator that released gas even when in the OFF position. The company replaced the regulator, hose, and clips with approved ones after the incident, and urged customers to use only certified components.

However, George countered this narrative, saying the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) also inspected the gas cylinder and found gas was indeed leaking.

Back in April 19, 2025, a young couple from Adventure, along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, died following a gas explosion at their home. The victims, 34-year-old Kevon Cadogan and his 20-year-old reputed wife, Mezona Ronaldo were badly burnt after a gas bottle allegedly caught fire, while they were cooking. They were taken to the GPHC but succumbed to their injuries. Ronaldo died on Friday while receiving treatment, while Cadogan died early Saturday morning.

In January, a tragic gas bottle-related explosion claimed the lives of a couple from Foulis, East Coast Demerara. The victims, 58-year-old Manu Sukhu and his 55-year-old wife, Basmattie Ganpat, suffered extensive third-degree burns during the incident, which occurred on January 4, 2025, at their Fifth Street home. Both were admitted to the hospital the same day, with Ganpat sustaining burns to 80 per cent of her body and Sukhu to 68 per cent. Despite medical efforts, they died three days apart from their injuries.

On December 17, 2024, another explosion in Little Abary, Mahaicony, Region 5, destroyed part of a home after a Massy gas bottle reportedly leaked. According to Oneka Williams, parts of their home, including the back door and walls, were blown apart. Massy representatives later denied the gas cylinder was at fault, despite initial police investigations suggesting otherwise.

On November 29, 2024, a similar incident occurred when a gas bottle exploded at a home in Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. The woman involved, Necolece recalled the explosion happening after she lit the stove. “I thought the fire was all over me. My first thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, the gas bottle exploded,’” she said. Afterward,  Massy Gas representatives attributed the explosion to a faulty regulator but denied any fault on their part.

In another incident earlier in the year, businesswoman Jaiwantie Samaroo suffered severe burns after a gas bottle exploded in her shop. Her husband, Randolph Pereira, suspected the gas bottle was leaking overnight and filled the shop with fumes, leading to the explosion when Samaroo attempted to light the stove. Pereira noted that after the explosion, Massy Gas sent five representatives, who focused more on removing the gas bottle than on the well-being of his wife.

Despite these incidents, there have been few regulatory changes. In January, multiple government agencies, including the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), launched investigations into the alarming pattern of gas bottle explosions. However, no significant improvements or safety reforms from Massy Gas were observed.

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• explosions, gas bottles, Gas Regulator, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Massy Gas Products

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