Two miners killed after separate pits collapse
SHERWYN Henry, 39, of Sophia was killed on Wednesday afternoon when a mining pit he was working in at Jumbie Creek, Potaro in Region 8, collapsed and buried him.Henry and eight others were in the mining pit when it caved in, trapping him. He was heard screaming loudly but there was nothing his colleagues could do to save him since the entire area was covered with dirt.
His body was later retrieved and will be transported to the city.
It was reported that investigations are ongoing following the death of another miner identified as Nigel Edwards when the pit he was in collapsed, trapping him also in the Takutu area.
The deaths come in the wake of a Commission of Inquiry set up by the APNU+AFC Government after a spate of mining deaths this year and last year.
TOROPARU BACKDAM
Meanwhile, in one recent mining tragedy, a 38-year-old miner of Queenstown, Essequibo died at Toroparu Backdam, Cuyuni River. Police reported that at about 11:45 hrs on August 05, 2015, a mining pit caved in at Toroparu Backdam, Cuyuni River, resulting in the death of miner Omet Samuels, 38, of Queenstown, Essequibo, who was trapped beneath. Investigations are in progress.
PAMELA, MAHDIA
On April 15, 2013 a teenager was killed and another person injured after a mining pit caved in on them at Pamela, Mahdia, Region 8.
Dennis Anthony Barker, 16, of Lot 550 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was killed while Scotland Pluck, 20, of Number Eight Village, Berbice was injured.
According to a police press release, around 15:40 hrs the men were working in a mining pit when it caved in on them.
MOWSIE BACKDAM
On May 17 last, 17 men were working in a pit at Mowsie Backdam, Mahdia, when it caved in during heavy rainfall. Seven of the men survived while 10 perished.
Following the incident, an intense search was conducted and five bodies were initially retrieved and within three days the remaining five bodies were pulled from the mud.
Some of the dead men were identified as Bobby Brittlebank of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden; 17-year-old Raymond August of Dartmouth, Essequibo; Michael Moore Gardener, 26, of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara; and Esmond Martin of Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara.
The other causalities are Leyland Jones; Jason Trotman of Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara; Trevon Phillips of Old Road Stewartville, West Coast Demerara; and Nomar Cort, Dick Frank Bernard and Glenn Bernard, all of Nappi Village, North Rupununi, Lethem.
The seven who survived are Sheldon Adams, Andrew Lazarus, Henry Xavier, Regan Greene, Alex Greene, Shawn Xavier, and Collymore Lewis.
Two weeks later, Thomas Anton, 64, a diver from Kamarang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) drowned while working at Quimenang River, Upper Mazaruni.
Anton was reportedly operating equipment under water, when it is suspected that he drowned after being trapped under a quantity of loose earth.
JUMBIE CREEK
On June 19, 2015 another miner was killed and another injured at Jumbie Creek Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) when the mining pit they were working in collapsed and they were trapped.
Orlando Archer, 25, of South Turkeyen perished while Leonard Persaud, 44 of Sophia escaped with injuries to his foot. Reports stated that a group of men were working in the pit when suddenly the walls caved in.
