Authorities have initiated a multi-agency investigation following a fatal mining pit collapse that claimed the lives of two miners this past Saturday.
The victims have been identified as 32-year-old Franky Hussain of the North West District and 38-year-old Brazilian national Neunes Da Silva. At the time of the tragedy, the men were part of a work crew operating in a 60-foot-deep mining pit. According to reports, sections of the eastern and western walls of the pit suddenly collapsed, trapping the men beneath debris along with an excavator.
While several other workers were able to escape the collapse, Hussain and Da Silva were unable to reach safety. Fellow miners initiated a rescue effort, which eventually transitioned into a recovery operation once it became clear that the men had not survived. Their bodies were subsequently recovered from the site.
A coordinated probe is currently underway involving the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Police Force, and the Ministry of Labour. Labour Minister Keoma Griffith confirmed his Ministry’s involvement in the investigation this morning.
The incident has drawn attention to safety standards within the region’s mining sector. APNU Member of Parliament Sharma Solomon issued a call for a thorough and transparent investigation, emphasizing the urgent need to address safety concerns in light of previous fatal pit collapses in the area.
