…Broomes calls for mapping of safe mining zones in Region 8

By Svetlana Marshall
THERE IS an urgent need to have the Potaro-Siparuni Region re-evaluated, to determine safe mining zones, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, said on Tuesday.

Minister Broomes’s statement comes at a time when the area is faced with another mining casualty. Last Sunday, 18-year-old Ramal Williams had his life cut short when a mining pit caved in on him while he was working in the notorious Konawaruk Backdam, Potaro, Region 8.

Just two months ago, Konawaruk was the scene of another mining accident which claimed the life of another teenager. On May 17, 2015, 11 miners were killed at Mowasie Backdam, Region 8, when a pit collapsed.

In an interview with Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday, Minister Broomes said that, in addition to placing tremendous emphasis on preventative measures, the mining areas should be re-evaluated as part of a pilot project.

“We must have engineers go in and evaluate the whole area, the whole of Region 8: Mahdia, White Hole and St. Elizabeth, to assess the soil types in the different locations,” she said.

Minister Broomes, along with officials from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), was on Tuesday scheduled to visit the scene of Sunday’s accident; however, the visit was rescheduled for today. Minister Broomes will visit Konawaruk Backdam today to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of the miner.

Additionally, a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) will be launched to fully investigate the matter within 72 hours.

Ahead of the investigations, the Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources said, there is a clear need to have the Mining Regulations fully enforced by GGMC officers on the ground.

“These areas need to be monitored by technical people,” she posited.

A CoI into the death of 19-year-old Trenton Sebastian in April revealed that the “absence of controls to make the mine-face safe” was a major contributing factor to his death. Sebastian died on March 14, 2016 when a mine collapsed at Konawaruk Backdam.

Last September, another CoI revealed that 25 deaths were recorded in 16 accidents within a 12-month period, 75 per cent of which were due to the collapse of mining pits. The principal cause of pit failure accidents was identified as the neglect of safe mining practices. Additionally, there was evidence that shortcuts were being taken in an effort to raise production.

President David Granger set up the CoI, and mandated it to investigate mining deaths by following the accident at Mowasie Backdam.

According to the report, from 2010 to 2015, a total of 62 miners, mostly young men, have died in the industry. The CoI also found that there exists a laidback culture to safety, and as such, clear rules must be applied and enforced.

A draft plan of action was presented by acting Commissioner of the GGMC, Newell Dennison, and included strategies for Occupational Health and Safety. In addition, it included plans for collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection, improvement at the technical levels, continuous and systematic training, enhancement of education, and instituting a certification requirement for the general managers of the mining operations, along with public and miners’ education.