Latest update January 11th, 2025 4:10 AM
Latest News
- Govt, US-Exim Bank sign US$527 million for GTE project
- Rystad Energy issues misleading analysis on Guyana’s share from ExxonMobil contract
- Deaths from Israeli attacks in Gaza undercounted by 41 percent, study finds
- PNC calls for doubling of minimum wage, tax free threshold to be increased to $400,000 monthly
- Pensioner dies at CJIA while waiting to board flight to New York
Mining pit tragedy…Owner denies producing the debris that collapsed
Owner of the Mowasi Mining camp, Imran Khan, has denied that he produced the overburden that slid into the pit killing ten workers.
Instead, he contended that it had been left behind by original claim holder,
From left, Patrick Harding of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA); one of the rescuers; Simona Broomes of the Guyana Womens Miners’ Association (GWMA); Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine and mining operator Imran Khan
Edward Hopkinson last year.
Khan also accused the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) of refusing to acknowledge that there was a standing agreement between him and Hopkinson to operate on the land.
The tragedy, which occurred on May 17, last, resulted in ten miners being buried alive and seven miners receiving injuries.
Dead are Leyland Jones, 38, called ‘Foots’ of Grove, East Bank Demerara, who was the gold operations General Manager; his nephew Jason Trotman, 21; of Samatta Point, Grove Housing Scheme; Raymond August of 229 Bent Street, Dartmouth, Essequibo; Bobby Brittlebank of 98 Wisrock Housing Scheme, Linden; Michael Gardner of Better Hope, ECD; Sheldon and Orlando Clario; Desmond Martins; Trevon Phillips and Nanmore Kurt.
The injured have been identified as Alex Green, 28, of Lima Essequibo Coast; Regan Green, 21, of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast; Collymore Lewis, 34, of Moraikobe Mission, Mahaicony; Sheldon Adams, 32, of Beehive, East Coast Demerara; Lazarus Andrews, 49, of Nappi, Central Rupununi and Henry Xavier, 37, of Paramakatoi, North Pakaraima.
In the ensuing investigation, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had ruled that Khan had been in breach of safety procedures governing mining beyond depths of 50 feet.
Khan, however, is adamant that his operation had not reached deeper than 40ft, especially given the difficulties that would have been encountered digging through the clay. He is disputing that his operation was ever unsafe.
Khan stated that his side of the mine was in a South West (SW) direction, while the abandoned land Hopkinson had worked was to the South East (SE).
“I was never working there because overburden and waste matter was left there by Hopkinson. I only went into that pit a month ago. I pointed this out to the engineers. Some of the survivors indicated where the wall came down from.”
Khan added that the land with the overburden was never seen as a threat to his own workers.
According to Khan, the specific overburden that collapsed on May 17 was left there by Hopkinson when he last worked the land a year ago.
Khan also addressed rumours that his workers were forced to work in the pit.
“In my camp we don’t have such. If workers are feeling ill, they take a rest. We don’t deduct cash from workers’ salaries. I treat workers as humans. Most of the workers that died were with me from foundation (day one).”
According to Khan, he is also still in discussion with the bereaved relatives to finalize compensation.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Dem signs need calibrating
Dem Boys Seh… Kaieteur News- Dem boys bin pass one of dem fancy speed meter signs wah de guvament put up fuh tell drivers... more
Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- It has long been evident that the world’s richest nations, especially those responsible... more
Weekend Cartoon
