The BOSAI investigation report from the fatal accident involving miner Neptrid Hercules, was, on Wednesday, handed over to the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton.

The Labour Minister thanked the investigation team, which managed to complete the investigation before the appointed six weeks.

Minister Hamilton hoped the report would bring some form of closure to the family, friends and co-workers.

Hercules went missing in the early morning of March 11, 2023, along with a CAT D9T dozer, which he was operating at the time.

This resulted from a failure experienced by the overburden dump in the East Montgomery Mine, causing Hercules to be covered by the overburden material.

The body of Hercules was found several days later after an extensive and painful search.

Minister Hamilton launched a formal investigation on March 27, 2023, in keeping with Section 72 (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Chapter 99:06 Laws of Guyana.

“The Act gives the minister the power to direct formal investigations into any accident arising out of, and in the course of, the employment of any worker where he considers it expedient to so do,” the Ministry of Labour stated.

The persons appointed are referred to as “the court” and “shall hold the investigation in open court in such a manner and under such conditions as the court may think most effectual for ascertaining the causes and circumstances of the accident.”

According to the ministry, competent persons were appointed to serve on the investigating team, whose main purpose was to determine the cause(s) of the accident and make recommendations for the prevention of accidents generally and, more in particular, the recurrence of similar accidents.

The persons appointed to serve on the formal investigation team were Charles Ceres, the Chairman; Emilia Maslen; Victor Fernandes, National Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH); Jimmy Reece, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); Michael A Howard, GGMC; Krishna Ramdas, GGMC; Neza King and Darwin Bourne, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department of the Ministry of Labour; Alyea Williams, Attorney-at-Law/Legal Officer attached to the Labour Department of the Ministry of Labour, and Colis Primo, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“The minister is deeply concerned about this matter. He holds the view that this accident should never have happened and he owes it to the family, co-workers and the community to ensure that that there are no recurrences. Hence the appointment of this formal investigation to provide answers to the numerous questions that abound and recommendations for implementation,” the Ministry of Labor said.