Negligence may have caused the death of Konowuruk miner

Georgetown, GINA, June 3, 2016

Negligence and breach of mining regulations may have been responsible for the death of a Konowuruk miner. This is the assessment of Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, who visited the site yesterday. The Minister briefed the Government Information Agency (GINA) on her fact finding mission.
“I think its complete negligence. The owner of the operations is in Georgetown and is communicating with the workers and did not even go back and visit the site. One would say maybe he is scared, scared of what? I want to put miners on notice, you will have to put the lives of the workers first and put money after,” the former miner stated.
Following reports of another mine pit cave-in resulting in yet another death, the Ministry of Natural Resources immediately activated a committee to investigate the incident.
Minister Broomes was tasked with visiting the mining camp to take a firsthand look at the conditions under which the miners were operating.
“The conditions from the outset, you see what they have to use to cross the river including the mines officers what they are really exposed to out there. It is not something nice we have inherited but it is one we have to change and will call for the land owners, the operators, the workers, the policy makers and all to get involved to bring about the change,” Broomes explained.
The Minister is appealing to owners of mining operations and miners to ensure the safety of miners at all times.
“You are important, you are somebody’s son, somebody’s wife, somebody’s father, somebody’s wife and mother and to value your life also to be on this fight to prevent fatalities,” Brooms appealed.
The government has voiced its dissatisfaction with the way mining is being done in Guyana and has adopted an inter-agency collaborative approach to regulate the sector.
Late last year, President David Granger appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate deaths at mining operations. A report has since been produced and handed over to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

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