By Michel Outridge

LEROY Henry is the Chairman of the Yarrowkabra/Circuitville Coal Miners Association and a father of 10. He is also a coal miner who oversees the operations of more than 32 active members.

He described coal mining as a hard day’s work that is never-ending with a lot of challenges that can be hazardous to health and well-being.

Henry related that coal mining is a technical piece of work and one must know what they are doing to have a successful outcome.

He disclosed that they used to get the scrap wood free of charge from the sawmills, but two years ago they began buying it when the sawmillers stopped giving it away and they too, have to pay the transportation cost, which adds up.

Henry added that being a coal miner one is exposed to smoke inhalation, dust and other conditions which are harsh, but they endure it daily to earn since jobs in the village are non-existent.

He reported that depending on the size of the pit and the amount of wood, it takes days to get coals and you have to check the pit often, then the coal has to be cooled before it can be placed in bags for sale.

“When we produce coals on large scale and the buyers come they do not want to pay more than $1,000 for a bag, and it is unfair to us because we are not making any profit, just sell to buy wood and pay transportation,” he said.

Henry told the Pepperpot Magazine that they have to pay $5,000 per crate of scrap wood and $5,000 for the truck to bring it to the location.

At the time, he was manning a pit which he lit since Saturday and it will take about eight days to fully burn to produce coal and even more days to cool.

Henry added that an average pit would produce about 60 bags of coal and they would sell it at $900 per bag.

He stated that he is from Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, but relocated to Circuitville with his wife many years ago.

His sons are all grown and left home and only his daughters are at home now and the work of coal mining is too hard for them to assist with.

Althea Peters, the coal miner
Meanwhile, the Pepperpot Magazine spoke to the Secretary of the Yarrowkabra/Circuitville Coal Miners Association, Althea Peters.

She pointed out that she has been a coal miner for the past 12 years, she was forced into the job because when she was job-hunting she came up empty-handed and started to produce coal to earn.

The mother of two stated that instead of ‘clutching at straws,’ she learned the trade by observing others and finally was able to start doing her own coal mining.

The 34-year-old reported that the job is her livelihood and is the only source of income to support two children, ages six and 16 years old respectively.

“When it rains it slows the process of coal mining by two extra days and there is nothing we can do to speed up the process, but wait it out but the rain cools the coals faster,” she said.

Peters disclosed that they had about 37 coal miners before they didn’t have to pay for the wood, but after that, some people simply could not afford to continue and had to quit.

She explained that on every bag of coal produced a $10 charge is paid to the association which covers the cost of paperwork and permits for coal mining.

Peters said a shed was erected with money collected from coal miners for their rest area from the weather and in time they will develop the place.

She reported that they have the permit to mine on eight acres of land and they would like to construct a washroom facility and a canteen for coal miners, who spend a lot of time at the location without any proper facility for resting.

The shed is also used for storing coal and serves as a place to hide from the rain and sun and to eat, as well.

“This job is not easy but at the end of the day it is a job and I am working with myself, so I have to try to endure whatever conditions come with this kind of work,” she said.

The Kings are self-employed coal miners
Another coal miner, Shaundel King and her husband were setting up a pit outside their yard in Circuitville to produce coal.

The 28-year-old stated that she is originally from Bartica, but came to the village with her mother when she was younger, remained there and got married.

The mother of two added that coal mining is their only source of income and 90 percent of the people in the village do it for their livelihoods.

She was packing $75,000 worth of wood in the pit alongside her husband when the team met her.