Ministry of Labour launches probe into death of man at Chinese Supermarket construction site

Sep 24, 2025 News

Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning, through its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department, has launched a formal investigation into a workplace fatality that occurred on Monday at a construction site in Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara.

Ministry of Labour launches probe into death of man at Chinese Supermarket construction site

Dead: Cuban national Dayrovis Martinez Mendoza

The victim, 28-year-old Cuban national Dayrovis Martinez Mendoza, was a construction worker involved in the building of a Chinese-owned supermarket when a 15-foot-high, 120-foot-long concrete wall collapsed at approximately 11:30 hrs. The wall came crashing down while several workers were nearby, fatally crushing Mendoza and trapping others.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry confirmed that OSH officers have commenced an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the collapse. “The Minister’s team, comprising officers from the Occupational Safety and Health Department, launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy,” the release stated.

The Ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to improving workplace safety and preventing future tragedies. “The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the lives and well-being of all workers by enforcing occupational safety and health standards and holding employers accountable for non-compliance.”

During a site visit on the day of the incident, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith extended condolences to the victim’s family, friends, and colleagues on behalf of the Government of Guyana.

Speaking with Kaieteur News on Monday, Minister Griffith pledged to intensify workplace inspections and emphasized the need for increased public education on occupational safety.

“We need to amplify and continue inspections by our Health and Safety Officers,” the Minister stated. “But equally, I believe we must find a way to have persons continue to join the educational aspect of health and safety. Over the coming days, a robust plan is being examined to educate workers and employers on proper health and safety protocols.”

On Monday, residents in the area told Kaieteur News that construction of the supermarket began around three months ago, and many had raised concerns about the quality of the work. One resident remarked, “We did raise concerns about the wall ever since they started construction. How it was being constructed, it looked inferior, and we were worried that the wall might collapse and it did.”

Following the collapse, eyewitnesses reported that several Spanish-speaking workers had been on-site when the eastern fence wall suddenly gave way. Only one body was visible in the rubble. Emergency responders from the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Fire Service quickly arrived, broke through the concrete, and removed Mendoza’s body. A thorough search confirmed that no other persons were trapped.

According to police, the property was being developed by 49-year-old Chinese businessman Xie Guohui, who had entered into a 40-year lease agreement on October 7, 2024, with property owner Carlos Paul. Guohui reportedly hired six Spanish-speaking labourers, whose names were not recorded, to assist with the construction, which began approximately two months ago under his direct supervision. He was reportedly absent from the site on the day of the incident due to illness and was only informed of the collapse via a phone call at 11:50 hrs.

The body of Mendoza has been taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination as investigations continue.

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Chinese Supermarket, Dayrovis Martinez Mendoza, fatally crushing, Occupational Safety and Health

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