Labour Ministry probing death of pork-knocker in mining accident

…as miners urged to comply with protocols

The Labour Ministry has launched an investigation in relation to the 59-year old man who lost his life after a mining pit collapsed on Wednesday.

Donston John died at a mining pit at Konawaruk Backdam at Whitewater Mountain, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), after rocks caved in on him. In light of the accident, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Department will be working in conjunction with the Labour Ministry for an urgent but thorough investigation of this matter, a statement revealed on Friday.
After the probe is completed, a report will be compiled and submitted. Meanwhile, the Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat has since encouraged miners to comply with all protocols and guidelines in accordance with the Mining Act and regulations. Both Ministries have since extended condolences to the bereaved family.

According to reports, John, also called “Rambo” of St Francis Mission, Mahaicony River, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), and a 63-year-old Pork-knocker of Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), were working as punters with a three-inch pump and their detectors at Whitewater Backdam.
They were, however, joined by two other punters – a 52-year-old of Samantha Point, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and a 49-year-old man of Wakapao, Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
As the men were working at the edge of a hill, several big rocks reportedly fell on the victim while the others managed to run to safety. Moments after, the men returned to the scene and after several hours of digging out the debris, the lifeless body of John was pulled.
The police were summoned to the scene and the body was escorted to Mahdia Regional Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem. The police are continuing their investigations.
This is not the first time such an accident has occurred, and it has been happening in mining sites across the country. In the latest incident, a pitman attached to a private mining company at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was killed last July after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed.
Louis Armstrong, 55, of Meadowbank, Greater Georgetown, was working on a six-inch dredge when the pit caved in, thus pinning him.
Last October, a geologist attached to Troy Resources mining operations at Karouni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was killed after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed.
Ryan Taylor, 33, of Alberttown, Georgetown, and three others were working on the construction of a “bench” in a mining pit, when there was a slippage, which allegedly resulted in him falling and being covered.
It was later disclosed by the company that at about 02:25h on the night shift, the geologist was standing above an excavated working face when the three-metre embankment he was standing on collapsed and he suffered fatal injuries as a consequence.
It took some time to get Taylor from under the rubble and by the time he was pulled, it was too late. (G12)