Berbice farmer killed in bee attack

Fifty-seven-year-old John Sutherland of Eversham Village, Corentyne, Berbice (Region Six) was killed by a swarm of bees on Thursday while working in his rice field aback the village.
Guyana Times understands that, when the bees attacked, Sutherland was sitting on the fender of a tractor as it ploughed the land. The men who were with Sutherland reportedly ran to save their lives, leaving him behind.
It was later learnt that Sutherland could not run due to a physical challenge, and he was stung by the bees.
After the bees left the area, the others went to look for Sutherland but his motionless body was found lying on the ground. His body was swollen at the time.
He was picked up, placed on the tractor and taken out of the backdam, after which he was transported to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Another farmer who was also stung during that bee invasion is being treated at the Port Mourant Hospital. A post mortem is expected to be done on Sutherland’s body soon.
Back in 2019, sugar worker Rameshwar Poonoo, 31, of Grassfield, Ankerville, Port Mourant, Berbice was killed by a swarm of Africanised bees as he was clearing bushes. It was reported that Poonoo, a father of two, was working at the Albion Sugar Estate, and was instructed to build two “footbridges” and to cut a tract on the Resource Middlewalk Dam.
However, during the process, Poonoo and two others were attacked by a swarm of bees. The two men, who were stung several times, were able to run to the sideline and escape the attack, but Poonoo remained in the canal.
He was later taken to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.