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Independent inquiry launched into Enmore sugar worker’s death
Jainarine “Derrick” Singh
Weeks after the death of Jainarine “Derrick” Singh, officials of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) have announced that the commission of inquiry into his demise, plans to commence a full investigation into the accident next Monday (June 20).
Singh, who was seriously injured when a boiler blew in the Enmore Factory, on May 15, last, passed away several days later. The 47-year-old man had been an employee of GuySuCo for some 31 years. He was employed as a ‘boiler operator’ until he was transferred to the ‘mills and boiler’ section.
Initially, he worked at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) location before he was shifted to the Enmore factory.
Singh was at work in a section of the Enmore facility that had recently been modified to allow the movement of sugar on conveyor belts when the explosion occurred.
He was struck by shrapnel in the chest and abdomen and had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for medical treatment.
He was accompanied by the Health and Safety officer and nurses at Enmore.
Singh however requested to be taken to the Woodlands Hospital where he underwent two surgeries for injuries sustained. After his first operation his condition worsened and he began to have difficulty breathing. He was incubated and hooked up to a respirator. On May 23, Singh succumbed to his injuries. He passed away at 17:30hrs that day, just hours after the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) had called for an inquiry into the accident.
Immediately after Singh’s death the corporation lost no time in expressing condolences and moved immediately to say that they would be compensating Singh’s family.
They also announced an investigation into the matter saying on that occasion, “The Corporation wishes to state that its Health and Safety guidelines dictate that any incident which results in injury to a worker in the industry must be investigated.
As such, a team of investigators have already conducted their reviews, including interviews with the other employees who were with Mr. Singh when the incident occurred. That report will soon be completed.”
The Corporation also disclosed that it had decided to assemble another team, inclusive of representation from GAWU, to conduct a separate investigation into the incident.
In a press release issued yesterday, the names of the members of that new team were announced along with the disclosure that they had made a site visit on June 14.
The members of the team are Dale Beresford – Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry, Seepaul Narine – General Secretary, GAWU, Mohamed Ahamad – Rose Hall workers representative, Deodat Sukhu – Industrial Relations Manager, GuySuCo, Sharma Dwarka – Factory Operations Manager, GuySuCo.
The release also noted that the establishment of this commission was based on a Memorandum of Agreement between GuySuCo and GAWU and that they had ‘encouraged’ factory workers “to volunteer and give evidence to the investigating team”.
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