THE decomposing bodies of 45-year-old Jose Carlos Barbosa Araujo and 37-year-old Adonias Ferreira, two Brazilian nationals who are believed to have been miners, were discovered on Sunday afternoon in a swamp at Aramau Backdam, Cuyuni, police have confirmed.Discovered by passersby on Sunday at about 14:30 hrs, the bodies have since been taken to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary, and are expected to be transported to Georgetown today for autopsies.

Over the years, Brazilian miners have perished under various circumstances in Guyana’s hinterland, and the deaths of the two men have come amidst renewed concerns about security for miners in the hinterland regions. Many Brazilian miners have been the subject of robberies and killings in mining communities.

Earlier this month, the body of 51-year-old Brazilian national Josi Mar Perrieria Silva of Boa Vista, Brazil was found at a camp at Mowasi Backdam, Mahdia. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that Silva was murdered, as his death was caused by blunt trauma.

The Guyana Police Force has been working with stakeholders over the years to curb the high incidence of robberies and murders in mining communities, but not enough is being done.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud last week said the Force was operating with limited resources, but noted that with time, new checkpoints and strong intelligence-gathering techniques would be employed to confront the security challenges in mining communities.

Persaud acknowledged there is need for better security arrangements in the mining districts, but he said citizens must also understand the constraints of developing countries like Guyana. He contended that the Force is doing the best it can with its limited resources. “You know we operate in a developing country, and these are a developing country’s realities…the realities of small economies. So you can’t get your expectations beyond the reach of the economy,” he had said.

As time and resources become available, Persaud said, security will be beefed up in mining communities.

President David Granger has also stressed the need for, and the importance of, having improved security in mining communities.
“There must be better security in mining districts,” he has said.

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association has also been vocal about security for miners. The Association said it is “very concerned about the increase in crime, violence, murders” in mining districts countrywide.