…recommended charges, EPA head reveals in damning letter to Granger
The results of two investigations into the death of Geologist Ryan Taylor, previously not released to the public, have found that mining company Troy Resources Guyana was culpable for Taylor’s death, and had even recommended that charges be laid against the company.
Dead: Geologist Ryan Taylor
This came to light in a letter written by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head, Dr Vincent Adams. The letter, dated June 16, and addressed to Chief Executive Officer of Troy Resources, Ken Nilsson, with copies going to a slew of other officials, including the caretaker President David Granger, has been seen by this publication.
In the letter, Adams refuted Nilsson’s claim that the Ministry of Social Protection and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had found no fault against Troy Resources when they investigated Taylor’s death.
Caretaker President David Granger
“Sir, unfortunately, both agencies tell a starkly different story,” Adams wrote. “The (Ministry of Social Protection) unambiguously concluded that (Troy Resources) is entirely responsible for his (Taylor’s) death, identified several causes – all attributable to Troy Resources — and recommended charges against Troy Resources.”
According to Adams, charges were recommended against Troy Resources for “obstructing an officer in the execution of his official duties…refused to permit the officer to visit the site…refused to submit documents formally requested, and (2) failing to report 12 cases of occupational diseases.”
Troy CEO, Ken Nilsson
The GGMC report was not much better. According to Adams, the GGMC report “definitively ascribed fault to Troy Resources for its act of negligence and irresponsible behaviour” that caused the death of Mr. Taylor.
Besides Granger, the letter was copied to GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison; de facto Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; de facto Minister Dawn Hastings; de facto Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, her Junior, Minister Keith Scott; and Director of the Department of the Environment, Ndibi Schwiers.
EPA Director Dr Vincent Adams
Efforts to contact Nilsson for a comment by this publication were futile.
Fallen rubble
Taylor was killed while working on the construction of a “bench” in a mining pit operated by Troy’s Karouni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) operation on October 8, 2019. It was reported that a slippage occurred, thus leading to Taylor being crushed by fallen rubble.
Immediately after the accident, mining operations at Troy Resources were closed. Both the Social Protection Ministry and GGMC carried out their investigations, with the revenue shortfall causing Troy to fire almost 400 workers. The investigations were completed, but the reports were never made public.
This publication had reported, back in March of 2020, that since the accident, the family of Taylor were yet to receive compensation. In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times, Taylor’s mother June Taylor had related that she has been receiving the “royal run around” from the Social Protection Ministry to ensure that Troy Resources is held accountable for her son’s death, and moreso get them to offer a financial settlement, since the now dead man had been sole breadwinner for the family.
“All what I do, I aint get no help. I am not hearing nothing, nothing, nothing; everything just left, and that was it. Nobody aint coping because he was the breadwinner of the family. He was the breadwinner for the children, he was the breadwinner for me. I am struggling to get things done. People don’t know, so it is a struggle for me to get finances to get things done. I does work, but my salary cannot meet up to it,” the grieving mother had stated.
According to her, she met with Nilsson on November 8, 2019, who assured her that he would intervene, but since then, no contact was made with her or any member of the family. With the entire process being frustrating, the woman had explained that she visited the Social Protection Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health Department, but was told to take a lawyer to fight the case privately.
She had then met with Trotman, who promised to organize a lawyer to handle the case, but she never heard from him again. According to her, however, Trotman subsequently retracted his offer and advised her to go to the Legal Aid Department.
