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Govt. must do better to enforce safety measures for mining camp workers – Solomon
(Kaieteur News) – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) and former Mayor of Linden, Sharma Solomon has bemoaned the lack of enforcement measures for workers’ safety in Guyana’s mining camps.
In a post via his Facebook page on Wednesday, Solomon called for better enforcement of safety measures while revealing that between January and April 2026, Guyana recorded 13 workplace fatalities and 64 non-fatal workplace incidents. He noted that by May, at least four mining related deaths have already been recorded.
APNU MP, Sharma Solomon
Solomon noted that for years, Guyana’s mining sector has been operating with a dangerous acceptance of risk. The former Mayor highlighted the most recent death of 25-year-old miner Ryan Roberts, who died after a pit collapsed at Chi Chi Backdam. He noted that the incident has once again exposed the dangers faced by workers in Guyana’s interior region.
“Pit collapses, unsafe working conditions, questionable labour practices and recurring accidents continue to expose workers to injury and death. Yet the agencies responsible for oversight continue to react after tragedy instead of preventing it. The Ministry of Labour is responsible for protecting workers. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission is responsible for ensuring mining operations meet safety standards. Too often, both appear absent until something goes wrong,” he said.
The APNU MP also lamented the lack of adequate investigation and safety reforms as a result of those investigations. In this regard, he alluded to incidents involving Guyana Goldfields which generated public attention.
“Worker complaints and commitments were made that investigations would be completed. We were told that findings had been prepared and were awaiting attention. Months later, workers are still waiting. At the time, the Minister of Labour claimed that his ministry was facilitating ‘training for his ministry.’ Months on, the workers at Goldfields still waiting,” he stressed.
Solomon noted that similar incidents are happening in the quarrying sector.
“These involve foreign workers; labour conditions and workplace rights were also placed under investigation. The public is still waiting to hear what was found, who was held accountable and what corrective action was taken,” he said.
The former Mayor noted that every mining death should trigger not only an investigation but a national examination of whether those charged with oversight are doing their jobs.
“Investigations are important. But investigations without conclusions, findings without publication, and promises without action eventually erode public confidence. Workers do not measure justice by the number of investigations announced. They measure it by whether anything changes when the investigation is over,” he said.
Having played a central role in the government’s response to the Mahdia dormitory tragedy, a matter that continues to attract public scrutiny, Solomon believes the Minister must know that his actions today are being measured against his record.
“The public is watching closely to see whether justice will be delivered or whether more families will be left waiting for proper representation and justice.”
Solomon emphasised that the mining sector generates enormous wealth for Guyana noting that “The least this nation can do is ensuring that the men and women who create that wealth are protected before tragedy strikes, not remembered after it occurs.”
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