Separate investigations announced into bauxite pit cave-in  
ANTHONY Johnson, a Rusal Bauxite Company foreman who was taking samples when one of the walls of a pit caved in, killed his colleague, Franklyn Reece, and injured him, is recovering at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Suffering injuries to his back, Johnson was air-dashed to the city following the incident, in which Reece, 20, of Hururu Mission, also along Berbice River, was buried alive about 10:30 hrs on Sunday.
In a statement, issued Sunday night, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) said that the tragedy occurred at Block Number Five in the Kwakwani area.
“This unfortunate incident resulted in the death of our worker, Franklyn Reece. The family of the deceased was immediately informed and the company expressed its condolences.
“Another worker, Anthony Johnson was injured as a result of this accident. He was immediately air-transported by the company to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he received urgent medical care. His condition is not critical and, in the opinion of the doctors, he should be released in few days.
“The Reece family will be offered compensation and other assistance from the BCGI. The company also will stand all medical expenses for our colleague, Anthony Johnson.
The directors of BCGI are in contact with the Guyana authorities surrounding this incident, in particular with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).”
The statement added that, according to the provisional assessment, the casualties were suffered because of an involuntary cave-in of a bench edge.
“All circumstances of this accident will be the subject of a specially created commission which will provide its final conclusion. This company considers the absence of our colleague, Franklyn Reece, as a loss to our mining family and regrets all emotional trauma that was caused by this event and truly empathises with his relatives in their bereavement,” BCGI stated.
Meanwhile, a statement from the OPM said a team of officers is to be dispatched to the area to conduct a full investigation into the accident.
“Prime Minister and Minister Responsible for Mining (Samuel Hinds) sadly learnt this morning…about the unfortunate accident at the bauxite mines of Bauxite Company Guyana Inc… The Prime Minister has had discussions with the Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, who is dispatching a team of officers to Kwakwani to ascertain the facts and to provide an immediate report on this regrettable accident.”
“Early in this week, a team will be appointed to conduct a full investigation into this fatal accident in an effort to establish where regulations to ensure occupational safety and health might not have been satisfied and to determine other factors, if any, that might have contributed to this unfortunate incident.
“Sincere condolences and deepest sympathies are hereby extended to the family and friends of the deceased and wishes for an early and full recovery of the injured are herewith proffered,” the statement added.