Gary Best to lead probe into latest mining pit death

Oct 19, 2016 News

Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Gary Best was yesterday sworn in to investigate, examine and report on the causes, conditions and surrounding circumstances that led to death of Keon Wilson, after the mining pit in which he was working in collapsed, pinning him under slush at Puruni, Region Seven.
Commissioner Best took the oath before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The swearing in followed the mandate given by President David Granger that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) be established into the incident.
According to reports, Wilson, 33, of Ann’s Grove East Bank Demerara, was buried alive after the mining pit in which he and several other men were working in gave way on October 8.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and Mr. Gary Best in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court

The inquiry will investigate, examine the regulatory, monitoring and reporting regimes that govern areas specifically at Rock Creek, Puruni to determine whether there was compliance with safety operating procedures.
It will also determine whether there were breaches of any laws, regulations, rules and practices that directly led to, or contributed to the death of Wilson.
Mr. Best has also been tasked with enquiring into the actions of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and to report his findings and conclusion to determine the cause of the incident and make recommendations to prevent a recurrence.
A Preliminary Report shall be rendered to the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman on November 4. A final report will be handed over to President David Granger on November 18.
Ms. Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Legal Advisor at the Ministry of the Presidency, Mr. Reginald Brotherson, Permanent Secretary, Department of Public Service, Ministry of the Presidency; Joslyn McKenzie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources; and Mr. Newell Dennison, Acting Commissioner of the GGMC also attended.

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