THE three miners who went missing in the Omai Mountain Area of Region 7 are alive and well, the Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed. Anthony and Gavin Van Sertima and Kwastan Lewis were found by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Thursday morning.

In a statement, the ministry said the three miners have been located, and arrangements are being made to transport them to Georgetown. Members of the GGMC and the Guyana Police Force embarked on a search, and found the three men walking along the trail. They appear to be in good health. The men will be transported to Georgetown shortly.

It is unclear where the three men were found, but Guyana Chronicle was informed that the three men were taken back to their camp, where two other miners were awaiting their return.

The men — a father, son and nephew — had gone in search of a mining block, which they reportedly located on Valentine’s Day. They left the Omai Mountain area to return to a camp they had set up, but unfortunately got lost in the forest.

After walking for miles over a couple of days, the men were able to make contact with relatives, and indicated their dilemma.

Joylyn Moore, wife of Gavin Van Sertima, told Guyana Chronicle on Thursday that she is relieved. She said she was informed on Thursday morning that her husband, son and nephew were found and are safe. She explained that she was extremely worried about their well-being as the three men had been without food and water, and had no means of communicating with anyone as their mobile devices were without power.

“I am so happy! I am thankful for all the help that I received…I am glad they are ok,” Moore told Guyana Chronicle. She said the area identified as Omai Mountain is a densely forested location, and so she was unsure of the trio’s location and the possible danger they faced.

“Everything is alright! I am thanking God that everything is fine! God is good!” the woman said. When asked whether the three men would be returning to the city following their ordeal, Moore said, “No. They (will) set a camp so that they could take things in…they have vehicles and so on…all the things were left there.” She explained that two other miners were awaiting the trio’s return.

Moore said, too, that if the men had been found in a state of not being well, then they would have returned to the city; but because they have been found alive and well, she does not anticipate them visiting the city at this point.

“Everything is alright…I don’t think they’d come out now,” added Moore. She expressed gratitude to Ministers of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Simona Broomes, for their assistance, along with officers of the GPF and the GGMC. “I thank God for your help,” the elated woman added.