Miner stabbed to death during bar row

…miners association condemns “violent and senseless” killing

A late-night altercation at Issano Landing, Middle Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) has left a 38-year-old gold miner dead, with Police now confirming the arrest of the suspect in the case. Dead is Emanuel Williams, also known as “Chiney”, a miner of Bartica. The incident occurred around 23:30h on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 14 Mile Issano Landing, Region Seven.

Police reports indicate that Williams was at a bar in the area when he became involved in an argument with another male. During the confrontation, he was stabbed in the chest. The suspect fled the scene shortly after. Williams was subsequently escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where his body was lodged pending a post-mortem examination. On Monday, a post-mortem was conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, which revealed that Williams died from perforation of the lung and heart due to a stab wound to the chest. His body was later handed over to relatives for burial.

Prior murder link
Police have since arrested Travis Brewster, also known as “Turpin,” a miner of Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, in connection with the killing. Brewster was apprehended on Monday, at about 15:35h at 14 Mile, Issano Landing, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), where the incident occurred. Brewster had been the subject of a wanted bulletin in relation to the murder of Ron Clarke, which was committed in Linden on July 17, 2025. He is also a suspect in the murder of Williams and is currently in Police custody as investigations continue. Clarke’s bullet-riddled body was discovered in a drain at Victory Valley, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Police arrested one person and were searching for Brewster, who was at large. Clarke, who resided at William Street, Kitty, Georgetown, and Wisroc Housing Scheme, was found dead by a 19-year-old construction worker, who alerted Police. Clarke’s body was transported to the Linden Hospital Complex by a passing vehicle, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A post-mortem revealed Clarke sustained 14 gunshot wounds: five to the right arm, two to the groin, one to the hip, and six to the right thigh. A warhead was also found in his underwear.

“Violent and senseless”
In the wake of Williams’ death, the Small Miners Association of Guyana Inc (SMAGI) has expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the violent killing. In a statement shared on its Facebook page, SMAGI described the incident as a “violent and senseless” act and noted that while violence has long cast a shadow over the mining industry, the loss of life under such circumstances remains profoundly tragic.
The association emphasised that law-abiding miners have the right to work in peace and safety while earning a fair livelihood for their families. It described mining as an honourable profession that demands resilience, sacrifice and hard work under extremely challenging conditions. According to SMAGI, Williams’ death has been deeply felt throughout the mining community, impacting both struggling and successful miners alike and serving as a stark reminder of ongoing security concerns within the sector. While expressing support for recent Government efforts to regularise the mining industry, the association called for comprehensive security measures to be implemented and enforced with equal urgency, stressing that the protection of all stakeholders must be treated as a national priority.