RETIRED Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Gary Best has been named head of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which will be set up to investigate the death of Keon Wilson, a ‘jetman’ at a gold mining operation who was last Saturday buried alive during a mining pit collapse at Rock Creek, Mining District Three in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNRE) had announced shortly after the death of the 33-year-old Wilson, a father of two and resident of Two Friends Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), that a CoI would be launched to uncover the circumstances surrounding his death. On Friday, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, announced at a press conference that Best, who is also an advisor to the Government on matters involving the Environment, would head the commission, which will shortly be constituted.

Minister Trotman has said that although the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the ministry he heads, and the Guyana Mining School have tried to instill healthy and safe practices in the industry, miners seem to still ignore instructions.

“The GGMC, the ministry and the mining school continue to be the very best we can. Miners, however, seem to want to not even understand the basics of mining, or to take advice; and in some instances where cease orders have been given by Mines Officers, they go back and they resume mining without authorization,” Minister Trotman declared. “It hurts,” the minister said, noting that the latest mining fatality is “near and dear” to his ministry.

Extending deep condolences to the family of Wilson, Trotman told Guyana Chronicle that the CoI seeks to answer questions that may arise. “We have to find out what happened,” he declared, as he said that Government’s action is dependent on the CoI’s report.

Those who will testify at this CoI include fellow miners who had been present when the mining pit collapsed, the claim holder, and the owner of the dredge. The land dredge is owned by Everton Daly, another resident of Two Friends Village, ECD.

The GGMC issued Daly an immediate cease-work order for unsafe mining practices immediately after Wilson’s death, and has said that Daly’s dredge was unregistered and unsafe for working, in accordance with Regulation 214 of the Mining Regulations.

Daly had obtained a mining privilege from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission on June 21, 2016 for a period of twelve months.

Should the dredge owner be found responsible for this accident, Minister Trotman said, “We would put a cease-order…ensure that that dredge owner does no further work… We (would) ensure that compensation is offered to (Wilson’s) family and relatives.”

A mining pit accident in May 2015 had claimed the lives of 11 miners, while many others have died under similar circumstances across Regions Seven and Eight.

Since taking office, President David Granger has promised that every mining accident would be investigated, and has warned that defaulting mining operators would be placed before the courts if found to be in breach of safety standards.

“The lives of the men and women in this industry are more precious than the minerals they mine,” President Granger has declared.