As intense rainfall continues, the Natural Resources Ministry (MNRE) has alerted all miners and loggers to take extreme precaution in the way they operate and use hinterland infrastructure. This advisory was issued on Wednesday in light of the ongoing intense weather conditions.
File photo: A mining pit in Guyana’s interior
The MNRE has said the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Forestry Commission are cognisant that the present weather conditions would pose great challenges to operators in those sectors, and would impact the natural resources sector and its productivity.
As such, the MNRE is urging all stakeholders to exercise caution in their operations, and to observe all necessary safety practices in keeping with sustainable logging and mining guidelines, in order to prevent accidents.
While the current weather conditions pose a threat to the natural resources sector, the MNRE has said, it and its agencies remain committed to developing the sector responsibly, while achieving its targets. Stakeholders in need of technical guidance can make contact with either the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission or the Guyana Forestry Commission respectively, via telephone numbers 225-2865 and 226-7272.
On Monday, miner Olrick Matthews died after a tree fell into a mining pit in which he was working at the Sandhills Backdam, Cuyuni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). Reports are that the tree was uprooted and fell at about 12:45h during heavy rainfall.
On April 25, Police reported that a man identified only as “Coolie” died following a mining accident at Kuribrong Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). Based on information received, the now dead man was working in a mining pit when it reportedly caved in, and he was pinned by a fallen tree. Among the mining deaths that occurred within the past year are that of 20-year-old Clavor Paul. This miner was killed after the walls of a pit in which he was working at St Elizabeth Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) caved in. The Police have said that at the time of the incident, Paul, of St Ignatius Village in Central Rupununi, was operating a ‘marrock engine’.
Donston John, 59, died in a mining pit at Konawaruk Backdam, Whitewater Mountain, Region Eight after it caved in on him.
And Brazilian miner Cicero Ferreira Pereira, aged 55, was killed after a 200-pound rock crushed him to death while he was working at Puruni Mines in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
