The recent outreach conducted in Gold Mining District No. 3 – Puruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), by several Government agencies represent a crucial step toward improving occupational safety and health (OSH) standards in Guyana’s mining sector.
This joint initiative, which focused on enhancing working conditions and promoting lawful and safe mining operations, comes at a vital time.
As of 2025, while specific mining death statistics are not readily available, there were 11 fatalities recorded within the mining sector in 2024. Although not all were directly related to mining activities, each represents a life lost under circumstances that demand urgent and sustained attention.
Commissioner of the GGMC, Newell Dennison, aptly stated that “one is too many” when addressing mining-related deaths. This assertion underscores the pressing need for systemic and preventative approaches to safety—ones that move beyond routine inspections and sporadic enforcement to sustained engagement, education, and infrastructure support for the nation’s miners.
The increase in fatalities from eight in 2023 to eleven in 2024 should serve as a wake-up call for the sector. The figures highlight that despite regulatory frameworks and compliance drives, the mining industry continues to face significant challenges in enforcing and internalizing safety practices. The terrain, particularly during periods of inclement weather, further complicates safety enforcement and demands heightened vigilance.
Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Labour’s OSH outreach is both timely and necessary. By targeting mining areas such as Rock Creek, Mara Mara, Brazilian Scheme, Tiger Creek, and Peter’s Mine, and engaging over 145 miners across 19 operations, the initiative extended critical awareness to those most vulnerable to hazards. Topics covered ranged from proper benching techniques and pit floor assessments to sanitation, tree clearance, and rights to a safe workplace—issues that, when ignored, have contributed to previous accidents and fatalities.
Moreover, the integrated approach—featuring health interventions such as malaria testing and mosquito net distribution—demonstrates a recognition that miner safety must encompass not only mechanical and environmental risks but also public health concerns, especially in hinterland regions where healthcare access is limited.
The promotion of services through the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Inc also deserves recognition. By informing miners about available training in areas such as jewellery making, mineral prospecting, and GPS navigation, the outreach provided opportunities for capacity building and safer, more efficient operations. Furthermore, the distribution of brochures and posters focused on accident prevention, PPE usage, emergency preparedness, and mercury management reflects a sustained effort to ensure that safety information is not only shared verbally but also retained through accessible written materials.
However, while these efforts mark significant progress, the sector remains far from risk-free. The issuance of a warning notice during the outreach for defects related to pit conditions is a stark reminder of how easily regulations can be overlooked. It also signals the importance of active field monitoring and the need for stronger penalties to deter non-compliance. Greater accountability must be coupled with continuous education if a culture of safety is to be firmly embedded.
A total of 2,671 compliance checks conducted by the GGMC in 2024 demonstrates a proactive stance, but it also raises concerns about the sheer volume of infractions that may exist if such a high number of inspections are deemed necessary. More robust data transparency and public reporting on the outcomes of these inspections could help drive reforms and inform targeted interventions.
Ultimately, the path to a safer mining sector in Guyana requires an unwavering commitment to policy enforcement, stakeholder collaboration, and grassroots education. While mining continues to be a pillar of economic activity in the interior regions, that success must not come at the expense of human lives and wellbeing.
The recent inter-agency collaboration in Region Seven sets a commendable precedent. But to truly change the trajectory of miner safety, similar outreach programmes must be scaled up across all mining districts, with increased frequency and deeper community integration. It is only through consistent and coordinated action that Guyana’s mining sector can advance not only in production, but in its responsibility to protect every miner who powers that progress.
