Family seeks justice for miner killed after pit collapsed at Frenchman Backdam

Almost one month after 27-year-old Leon Lyken of Zeelugt New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, was killed in a mining pit accident at Frenchman Backdam, members of his family are calling for justice.
It was reported that Lyken and three others were working in the mining pit when a 20-foot wall on the opposite side collapsed. An excavator was used to retrieve his body.
During an interview with Guyana Times, his mother Donnett Elliott explained that her son had been the sole breadwinner of the family, and their future now looks dim.

“I have been a single mother for 14 years. Leon left to work with his employer (name withheld) on May 23, 2024, and he died (on) Saturday, May 25…He worked in the interior some time back, but he had some injury and was at home for a period. He was fully recovered and decided to go back to work…He was not my only child, but he was the sole breadwinner for my family,” she expressed.
She noted that although her son died at this work site, no one from the company has contacted them to lend a helping hand in ensuring that he is laid to rest.
“Nobody from the company or his boss reached out to me on to now…He did not help with nothing. People from the community, friends and family helped me where this funeral was concerned, and even the funeral parlour man cut down on the funeral expenses,” the aggrieved mother has said.
She added that due to the state of her son’s body, they had had to have it embalmed.
“The parlour did that at no cost. If I had to pay all that money for everything, it would have been much harder on me…I want to thank Mr. Ezekiel for seeing with me,” she declared.
This mother is hoping that no other mother would have to face what she had gone through, especially in losing a son.
“I desire that safety measures be put in place at mining sites, so that what happened to Leon will not happen again to any other person. I also call for employers to see in their hearts to assist families who face financial constraints when someone dies on their working sites,” she has said.
Elliott is pleading with the Government and other relevant authorities to look into the matter.
“I need justice for my son. There is no compensation or anything from the boss…so, I need justice and compensation for my son’s death. Look into the lives that are being lost in the interior, please!” she has said.