A worker is dead and another is now hospitalised after a pit collapse at the site of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project.
Engineers Liu Li, who was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital, and Zhang Yixun, who is now an admitted patient at the facility, were working at the Timehri site for contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
According to a press release from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, at approximately 10.40 am, a humus pit collapsed and trapped the two men.
Rescue efforts were immediately launched, it added.
A worker at the site told Stabroek News that the area where the men were working was more than one mile from the base where the other workers were working. “When them hear the news a set of Bobcat and Hymac rushed to the scene to start dig,” the worker said.
He added that Li had already died by the time they were able to retrieve him as he had been buried for about 20 minutes. He sunk into deep pagasse, which quickly swallowed him, the worker said. Yixun, he added, who was attempting to rescue Li, was submerged up to his neck when he was rescued.
The worker voiced disgust over the fact that on many occasions members of the Chinese labour force refuse the advice and guidance given by Guyanese. “Them don’t listen to you… some a them could barely understand English and yet them don’t want listen to you,” the worker stated.
Li, according to the employee, recently graduated from college in his home country and came to work in Guyana.
Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson has asked that an immediate investigation be launched into the incident.
The press release stated that CHEC is responsible for the health and safety of its employees at the work site.
A team of investigators, including representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, are expected to visit site today to check on the conditions there.
