A 27-year-old miner, Alfro Harris, of Hymacobra village, Moruca in the North West District, Region 1, was reportedly chopped several times about his body at ‘Big Hope’ backdam in Buck Hall, Essequibo River last Saturday night.

Harris was said to be drinking alcohol in a shop with some friends at the time of the incident.
Reports from the mining area said Harris and his friends were sitting at a table drinking when a man who was also drinking alcohol came up to him suddenly and shone a bright light in his eyes.
The seriously injured miner, speaking from his bed in the Suddie hospital on Sunday, said he told the man not to shine the light in his eyes and, after that, all he knew was that the man rushed to him suddenly with a sharp cutlass and started to “fire chops at me”.
Harris said he did not realise that he was chopped on both arms because of the alcohol in his system but, after some seconds, the pain started and he got up and ran and fell unconscious to the ground.
The seriously injured miner was picked up by his friends and rushed to the Suddie hospital where he was admitted. Police are investigating the incident. (Rajendra Prabhulall)