The aFC/PNC supporters were in support of electrical subsidy to Linden because they themselves were collecting subsidies via illegal connections. Sophia is a known PNC/afc area named after Burnham's daughter just as Linden was named after him too. They steal electricity and laugh while the rest of Guyana have to pay 27% increase to make up for the stealing. The AFC/PNc dogs claim that electricity is a god given entitlement.
Cop electrocuted : -while chasing prison escapee in Sophia
Written by Leroy Smith Monday, 10 June 2013 21:38 POLICE Constable 21600 Dorwin Pitman of 23 North Road, Georgetown lost his life yesterday morning when he was tripped up by a wire illegally connected to the GPL feeder in the North Sophia community and was electrocuted in the process. This most unfortunate incident occurred just after 7am, as the 23-year-old policeman was closely pursuing a detainee who had successfully made a dash for his freedom from the police outpost at Prashad Nagar. This publication was informed that the detainee, Ackeem Edwards, who is said to be in his mid-thirties, has been in police custody throughout the weekend, having been arrested and charged for being in possession of an offensive weapon, possession of cannabis, and waiting to commit a felony; and when Constable Pitman opened the door of the lockups to take the detainee out to escort him to court, Edwards made a dash for his freedom, with the police man hot on his trail.
Being a resident of North Sophia, Edwards ran into that community and began using several cross streets and short cuts in his bid to elude the pursuing policeman. He then ran through an alleyway with the police officer still on his trail. Not familiar with the lay of the land, the policeman reportedly tripped and fell on the illegally connected wire and was electrocuted. He reportedly died on the spot.
When the Guyana Chronicle visited the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost yesterday morning, ranks were deeply moved by the news of Pitman’s sudden demise. Phones rank off the hook, and senior uniformed and CID ranks kept popping into the station.
North Sophia residents poured onto the streets to glimpse the policeman’s body as it lay on the ground with the illegal connection still attached between the GPL pole and a house in the area. One woman who said she was a member of the Community Policing Group claimed she received a call from the commander of A Division informing the group to mobilize, since they had a situation in the area in which a rank was giving chase to an escapee of the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost. The woman said that by the time they were able to get their act together, the tragic situation was already upon them.
She added that while she received the call from the commander at just about 8am yesterday morning, she was informed that the policeman had been chasing after the escapee since just after 7am. The woman was of the view that had the CPG received the call earlier, they might have been able to intercept the fleeing prisoner.
The illegal connection
When the Chronicle visited the area yesterday morning, the police were conducting their investigations, and personnel from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) were busy severing illegal connections and seizing cables which stretched several metres across drains and bridges, and ran through yards to the home of a resident in the area.
Yesterday as GPL employees were busy severing the illegal wire from the pole, located on the main road in the community, the police were busy trailing the wire within the North Sophia community. Persons in the area were heard commenting on the death of the policeman while expressing frustration at the wanton theft of electricity in the area.
North Sophia residents are of the view that GPL needs to visit the area and conduct campaigns to rig the community of all illegal connections. However, despite those calls, the wire which took the young policeman’s life had not been concealed, as it ran from the pole to the house, visible for all to see, giving the impression that persons in the area were fully aware of the illegal connection and where it led.
Last Friday, a GPL team went into another part of Sophia, where they pointed out the number of illegal connections which were seen running from power poles to various structures in that community. The power company’s visit was to introduce a new form of metering, especially for that community, which the power company feels is responsible for the loss of millions due to electricity theft.
However theft of electricity seems to be a habit practiced by even the people who are responsible for prosecuting alleged offenders. Last Saturday, 33-year-old police rank Mark Smith of ‘D’ Field, Sophia lost his home and all his belongings in a fire; and it was both discovered and confirmed that that policeman’s home had been well fitted with an illegal connection running from a GPL pole. The pole was situated in front of the man’s home, and a telephone wire had been used to take the power from the pole to his home.
Speaking with this publication on Saturday and not knowing where the interview would lead, the policeman had confidently claimed that his home was fitted with all amenities, including surround sound system, television, microwave, one fridge, one freezer and other appliances.
