THE Ministry of Natural Resources has said it is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Keon Wilson, who perished in a mining accident at Rock Creek, Puruni, Region 7, over the weekend.The ministry, in a statement, said Wilson, of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, was working alongside colleagues when the pit caved in and covered him with mud. “The ministry expresses its condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of Mr. Wilson, and will be launching a commission of inquiry (CoI) to fully investigate the matter, to recommend actions to be taken in the event of any negligence, and to prevent a recurrence,” the release added.

The ministry said it is with grave concern that, despite enhanced efforts to monitor mining activities and to educate miners on safe mining practices, this latest death has occurred. “The Ministry bemoans the persistence of unsafe mining practices at some mining camps, which result in the untimely deaths of workers and adversely affects the lives of their families by extension.

“All miners are reminded to conduct their activities responsibly, and adopt the highest standards of safety in keeping with the laws of Guyana.

“The Ministry continues, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Mining School, to offer guidance, training, and other support to miners to improve safety practices in the field, and will hasten plans for the deployment of Wardens, who will have law enforcement powers to better police the sector,” the ministry said.

The pit caved in while Wilson was working on the jetting tailings as a jetman employed on a land dredge owned by Eventon Daly, also of Ann’s Grove, ECD. Daly had been issued a cease-work order by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for unsafe mining practices, but he did not heed the order. His dredge was unregistered and deemed unsafe for working in accordance with regulation 214 of the mining regulations.

Guyana Chronicle understands that George Alphonso is the owner of the property, and Daly had obtained a mining privilege from the GGMC on June 21, 2016 for a period of 12 months. According to statements made by other workers on the land dredge and seen by Guyana Chronicle, jetting was taking place on both sides of the pit when the accident occurred.

“The pit wall cracked, broke away and covered Wilson,” said 45-year-old Sean Dey, the other jetman who was in the mining pit at the time of the accident. In his statement to GGMC officers, Dey said, “I quickly called Ragnauth Lallie to bring the jet over to jet Keon Wilson out of the sand. We then proceeded to jet the sand covering Keon Wilson, and found him buried under approximately two feet of sand.”

When Wilson was reached by his colleagues, he was “unconscious and bleeding through his nose”. According to jetman Dey, an effort was made to resuscitate Wilson by “pumping his chest”, but that was unsuccessful. After failing to revive Wilson, Dey accompanied his employer, Daly, to the Puruni Mining Station, where a report was made. He recounted that it had taken approximately one hour for him and his colleagues to “jet” Wilson out.

Another miner, Royden Roberts, recounted that “there was no time to warn the deceased” when he realised what was taking place. Roberts works as a “marrack man” for Daly. “I had to run from the marrack hole to save myself,” he said.

Over the past two years, mining pit cave-in accidents have resulted in the deaths of many miners. The latest mining accident resulted in the death of a Russian Geologist, “Oleg”, at Annamuri Backdam in Mazaruni, Region Seven. This geologist and another worker were taking samples in a freshly-dug trench when one of the walls collapsed and covered them. Oleg died on the spot, while the other worker was injured.