…Minister orders immediate enforcement operation to address mining issues
Another miner died in Guyana’s interior after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Issano Backdam, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Dead is Lennox Douglas, 33, of Canvas City Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, the miner’s younger brother, Jermaine Douglas, said his brother recently started working at the location and was self-employed.
He said the family received sketchy information about what transpired from the Police. According to the young man, the Police said they are questioning other persons who were also working at the location when the tragedy occurred.
Jermaine said he was told that while working, “very hard mud” fell on his brother, which pinned him to the ground. The younger Douglas further related that his
Dead: Lennox Douglas
brother was later taken for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival. “At this time, we don’t have much information. We are still waiting on the young men to come out of the lockups to say what really transpired,” he told Guyana Times. He added that his brother has three children.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Natural Resources Ministry said it has taken note of this most recent mining tragedy. It added that Minister Raphael Trotman has ordered an immediate enforcement operation to be conducted jointly by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Ministry’s Compliance Division’s Corp of Wardens, to address problems of this nature in the mining areas where there has been an increase in legal and illegal mining activities and accidents. The agencies are expected to provide a report upon completion of the operation, the Ministry added.
In September, two miners lost their lives after they were covered by mud when a pit in which they were working caved in at the Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
Dead are Deon Sproston, called “Jersey Joe”, 36, of Lot 133 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and a miner only known as “Shawn”. The incident occurred at about 20:00h on September 17.
This publication understands the two men and other persons were working the walls of the pit with metal detectors searching for gold while it was raining heavily.
While working, a large portion of the pit wall suddenly broke off and fell on both men, covering them alive.
In January, 23-year-old Handel Payne, also called “Daggie”, of Kaneville Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) died after the mining pit in which he was
A mining pit in Guyana’s interior
working at 35 Miles, Konawaruk Backdam collapsed.
Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that Payne and others were working in the mining pit when a piece of the mud wall collapsed behind them, striking Payne in the mid-section. He reportedly fell unconscious by which time the water began to rise rapidly. He was submerged and subsequently drowned. He was later pulled out and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
In April, a miner named Kevin Adams, 25, of Linden, Region 10 died at Chinese Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, after a pit caved in and buried him alive.
One month later, in May, Ken Ranny, 20, a resident of Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni River, died after he was covered by mud after the wall of a mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Pepper Camp Backdam, Upper Mazaruni River.
Again, one month later, in June, miner Elmo Adams died after he too was covered alive after the walls of a pit in which he was working caved at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni.
Back in 2015, 10 persons died in a mining pit in the Konawaruk area after it collapsed. The incident saw 17 miners being buried under a pile of dirt and rubble but seven managed to escape alive with varying injuries.
The others remained trapped under the dirt where they perished. The 10 miners were Leyland Jones, Jason Trotman, Vick Bernard, Frank Bernard, Desmond Martins, Raymond August, Brian Bank, Trevon Phillips, Nanmore Kurt and another man identified only as “Michael”.
The deaths were blamed on heavy rains in the area, improper mining design and poor safety practices at the mining camp.
