–    Labour Minister says

STARTLED at the alarming number of fatalities occurring in the agriculture sector, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has acknowledged that heightened attention is being given to this particular area.

At the ministry’s year-end press conference, Hamilton revealed that outreaches had been conducted in farming communities, marking a new endeavour for the organisation.

“I think we have to pay attention to agriculture. I am of the view that more people might be dying in the agriculture belt but they’re dying silently and quietly,” he related.

The Labour minister also disclosed that officers have been present in Regions Five and Six and have commenced engagements with residents in order to train and educate them.

Given Guyana’s rapid developmental rate, Hamilton expressed the dire need for staff to become specialists in areas such as oil and gas, agriculture, construction, etc. and reassured the public that the ministry is working to make this a reality.

“Our intention is to have all officers become specialists in different areas, in different sectors… Because I will say this, [considering] the rate of development in Guyana, unless we make the necessary provisions as a nation to supervise the activities believe me, we will have a lot of wake houses to attend… So this matter is all our business,” he said while underscoring that safety is not a matter that only lies between the employer and employee.

Moreover, while the number of workplace deaths was recorded at 20 in 2023, a significant decrease when compared to the 32 fatalities in 2020, Hamilton stressed that more must be done to ensure that the safety of workers is maintained.

With the bulk of workplace fatalities occurring in the construction and mining sectors, it was stated that of the 20 deaths in 2023, nine were in the mining sector and six in the construction sector. The mining sector accidents occurred in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The remaining five fatalities occurred in the sectors of logging, security, vehicular, and vulcanisation.

Hamilton related: “The big issue here is every death is a person…I don’t treat these as statistics and we are doing everything possible to ensure that this can be reduced to zero.”

He then stated that the Ministry of Labour will be collaborating with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Gold Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), and the Ministry of Health to create a unique training programme targeted at giving miners first aid training owing to the concerning number of deadly accidents in the mining sector.

Moreover, according to the Labour minister, 950 workplace inspections took place, resulting in benefits for over 8,000 workers.

With safety playing an important role in national development, he also boasted that the ministry has been partnering with the private sector to educate employers and employees on proper health and safety.

When questioned by the Guyana Chronicle if the ministry will be providing better training to produce more competent Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) inspectors, Hamilton said that plans are being rolled out to tackle this issue, despite the obstacles.

“… We have to continue to train. But the point is as I’ve said you have to recognise the importance of this area in our national development, the protection and safety of workers. We have not given it attention that we have given so many other professions and we have to encourage people…” he said.