Probe into mining pit collapses blames unsafe practices, poor regulation

By Stabroek News On In Guyana News |
The New Executive of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA). In back row (from left) are committee members Conrad Saint Romain and Hilbert Shields, Organising Secretary Charles DaSilva, committee member Alfro Alphonso, Immediate Past President Patrick Harding and committee member Shawn Hopkinson. Seated (from left) are Secretary Mahendra Persaud, President Terrence Adams, Vice-President Andron Alphonso, and Treasurer Azeem Baksh.
The New Executive of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA). In back row (from left) are committee members Conrad Saint Romain and Hilbert Shields, Organising Secretary Charles DaSilva, committee member Alfro Alphonso, Immediate Past President Patrick Harding and committee member Shawn Hopkinson. Seated (from left) are Secretary Mahendra Persaud, President Terrence Adams, Vice-President Andron Alphonso, and Treasurer Azeem Baksh.

In the last 15 months, 28 men have died in mining pit collapses and an inquiry into the problem has cited unsafe practices and the inability of regulatory bodies like the Guyana Geology and Mines Com-mission (GGMC) to take action.

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which was constituted by President David Granger after 10 miners died in a collapsed