A 29-year-old miner of Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was on Monday crushed to death by a fallen tree at Big Hope, Waini, Region One (Barima-Waini).
Dead: Marques Cornelius
Dead is Marques Cornelius, a general manager of Singh’s Mining Operations. According to Police, Cornelius was prospecting at the backdam at about 10:35h when a tree fell and pinned him.
Police said that workers immediately went to help him and upon removing him from under the tree, they observed that he was lifeless with blood exiting his ears. Reports are he was placed in his employer’s vehicle and taken to the 70km Police Outpost. The employees arrived at the station at about 16:00h and were escorted by Police ranks to the Suddie Public Hospital where Cornelius was pronounced dead on arrival at about 18:30h.
Owner of Singh’s Mining, Dileep Singh said he received a call from his son, Navin Singh, about the incident around 11:00h, when he was informed that some men were clearing an area in the Waini area when the incident occurred.
Singh said his son told him during their telephone call that a tree fell on Cornelius, and workers attached to the mining camp were trying to get the miner out. However, he was later informed that their efforts proved futile.
Reports revealed that Cornelius has been working with Singh’s Mining for the past 15 years. Mother of the dead man, Eva Adams revealed that the miner, who is the youngest of her children, only left for the interior three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the Labour Ministry on Tuesday said that it has launched an investigation into Cornelius’ death.
“The Ministry of Labour is once again collaborating with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this accident,” the Ministry said in a statement. Arrangements are being made to visit the accident site, the Ministry’s statement also said, adding that it is expected that a report will be prepared which will include recommendations and prevent future recurrence.
Only last Wednesday, a 59-year old pork-knocker lost his life after a mining pit collapsed at Konawaruk Backdam at Whitewater Mountain, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
Dead is Donston John. Reports are he was killed after rocks caved in on him. 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. (G9)
