Who Failed the Final Safety Check?
The Deadly Cost of Defective Gas Regulators in Trinidad and Tobago
The explosions continue. In kitchens across Trinidad and Tobago, a critical, seemingly minor component—the gas regulator—is turning essential household appliances into deadly threats. Despite a highly publicized 2022 recall of defective units, dangerous, non-compliant devices remain in circulation, maiming residents and destroying homes.
These are not accidents. They are the result of systemic failures across the supply chain—from foreign manufacturers and local importers to regulatory agencies that failed to enforce safety protocols. At the very end of this broken chain, it is ordinary families who pay the price.
As the nation’s consumer advocate, CAIR (Consumer Advocacy and Information Resource) demands an immediate accounting for every lapse that has allowed this escalating public safety crisis to continue. Too many lives have already been lost or forever changed.
The Alarm Bell That Was Ignored: The 2022 Precedent
In July 2022, Trinidad and Tobago was rocked by news that National Petroleum (NP) was recalling approximately 300 CGAS C-20 low-pressure LPG regulators. The defect was severe: the on/off switch had been installed incorrectly, allowing gas to leak even when the regulator was supposedly “off.”
Affected Model: CGAS C-20 Jumbo Low Pressure LPG Regulators
Timeframe: Sold between February 18 and June 13, 2022
While this recall addressed a single batch, the tragedies that followed prove that the problem was far bigger than one product line. Faulty, aging, and uncertified regulators are still widely available, exposing households to unacceptable levels of danger.
The Toll of Systemic Failure: Incidents Since the Recall
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Piarco (October 2023): A 20-lb cylinder explosion caused severe burn injuries to a resident.
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Mt Hope (April 2024): Two people injured after a suspected gas leak ignited.
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Malabar (December 2024): A home destroyed by a massive explosion during an attempted regulator replacement.
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Enterprise (March 2025): A cylinder explosion triggered a fire that left a resident critically injured.
The pattern is clear: defective or uncertified regulators are still in circulation, and oversight has collapsed. The question is no longer if another explosion will happen, but when and where.
Protocol Breakdown: Where the System Failed
To prevent more tragedies, accountability must be enforced at every stage of the supply chain:
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The Gateway Failure: Importation and Manufacturing
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Importers are legally and morally obligated to ensure that every regulator entering Trinidad and Tobago carries TTBS certification and meets international standards.
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Demand: Full traceability for every unit, severe penalties for importing uncertified or defective stock, and prosecution of negligent manufacturers.
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The Distribution Failure: Retail and Wholesale
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Retailers are the last checkpoint before equipment enters homes. Passing along uncertified or recalled goods is unacceptable.
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Demand: Mandatory withdrawal of uncertified stock, transparent inventory records, and training to detect counterfeit or unsafe regulators.
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The Enforcement Failure: Government and Regulators
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Regulatory agencies failed to conduct nationwide audits after the 2022 recall and have allowed defective products to stay on the shelves.
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Demand: A national inspection campaign, transparent reporting on recall effectiveness, and criminal penalties for businesses selling dangerous stock.
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A Call to Action: Protecting Lives Requires Immediate Change
Every explosion since 2022 is a direct indictment of a system that chose inaction over public safety. CAIR calls on the Ministry of Energy, TTBS, and law enforcement to act immediately:
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Stop the Flow: Freeze imports of regulators until strict safety protocols are proven watertight.
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Clean the Market: Sweep the country for uncertified and recalled units and remove them from circulation.
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Enforce and Punish: Levy maximum fines and legal penalties on any entity responsible for placing hazardous regulators into homes.
Directives for Households
While the ultimate responsibility lies with businesses and regulators, families can take protective steps while the system catches up:
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Check: Inspect your regulator. If it matches the recalled model or shows signs of aging, replace it.
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Test: Use the simple soapy water leak test to detect leaks at connection points.
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Replace: Never keep a regulator beyond its safe life span; insist on TTBS-certified replacements.
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Install Professionally: Always use trained, certified technicians for replacements.
Trinidad and Tobago cannot afford another kitchen turned into a blast site. The safety of every household depends on decisive government action, strict enforcement on businesses, and vigilance at the consumer level. Public safety must never be left to chance.
References
| Citation | Recommended URL/Source | Note |
| National Petroleum recall of 300 CGAS C-20 regulators (2022). | https://newsday.co.tt/2022/07/06/national-petroleum-recalls-300-gas-regulators/ | This Newsday article clearly details the recall of the 300 CGAS C-20 regulators, the defect, and the return period. |
| Reported explosion: Piarco (2023). | https://newsday.co.tt/2023/10/13/woman-hurt-as-piarco-gas-tank-explodes/ | This Newsday article confirms the injury to a woman after a 20-lb cooking-gas tank exploded in Piarco in October 2023. |
| Reported explosion: Mt Hope (2024). | https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/how-did-ria-george-die/article_4c307f6d-f758-42c9-b4b4-7692a6fb934d.html | The express article that reports on the April 2024 explosion where two people were injured in Mt Hope. |
| Reported explosion: Malabar (2024). | https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/woman-dies-after-gas-explosion-at-home/article_925c7048-1a02-490d-bbda-6c63061690a4.html | The express article that reports on the December 2024 explosion involving a regulator replacement in Malabar. |
| Reported explosion: Enterprise (2025). | https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/woman-injured-in-gas-tank-explosion-dies-6.2.2413883.d2b7ddb1cd | The search results confirm a gas tank explosion at an Enterprise house in early March 2025 (and a later report of another fatal incident in Claxton Bay. |
Submitted by: C.Patrick
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