BARAMA Company Limited (BCL) reached a financial settlement, two weeks ago, with the relatives of Jason Anthony Fraser, who was killed at its sawmill on August 30, 2010. The man was trapped in a chipper machine which minced him while he was operating it at Buck Hall, Essequibo River.
The settlement was confirmed to the Guyana Chronicle, by Barama’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Forest Planning, Mr. Neil Chand.
BCL officials had met with Fraser’s family, several times, in the presence of counterparts from the Ministry of Labour to settle the issue and follow-up engagements among the parties saw the conclusion of the talks.
It was reported that Fraser was the sole operator in that section of the plant where plyboard is manufactured and was last seen alive around 16:30hrs on August 30.
Persons on the scene recounted that workers and management personnel, worried over his sudden disappearance, mounted searches after it was suggested that Fraser might have gone to another part of the concession.
However, a check at the toll gate confirmed that he had not left the complex and a security guard became aware of a strong stench in the wood trash area, from where the missing man’s clothing and body parts were retrieved.