A 21-year-old miner of Four Miles, Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima – Waini), who has since been identified only as ‘Vibes’, has died following a mining accident at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni – Mazaruni), on Monday last. According to information from the Guyana Police Force, ‘Vibes’ was one of five workers who were ‘jetting’ in a mining pit around 16:30 hours, when the dam that held slush from the tail-end broke, and the slush started to run down. An alarm was subsequently raised by the victim’s co-worker and friend, Elroy Smith, but it was too late as the victim, after attempting to ‘pinch’ the hose in an attempt to escape, got caught and covered by the slush. Police reported that Vibes’ co-workers dug him out and transported him to higher ground before placing him on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and rushing him to the Bartica Hospital, Region Seven, where at approximately 01:00 hour, on Tuesday, he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

A wound was observed to his right hand, but the body was placed in the hospital mortuary awaiting a post mortem examination, as investigations continue.
The Ministry of Labour announced that it was the seventh fatality in the mining sector for the year 2021, and the ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department, in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), has since commenced an investigation into the accident.
Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, expressed his concern about such fatalities and has stressed the need for continuous OSH awareness programmes in mining communities. He extended his condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.