Albion Estate worker died on Thursday after he was attacked by a swarm of bees while cutting a track at GuySuCo’s Ankerville, Corentyne cultivation backdam.
A father of two, Rameshwar Poonoo, also known as ‘Presley’ and ‘Buddy Bai,’ 31, of Lot 7 Grassfield, Port Mourant, fell into a nearby trench, where he is reported to have succumbed, after being attacked by the swarm.
According to information gathered, Poonoo, who was attached to the Number 6 Water Management Gang at Port Mourant, reported for duty at 7 am on Thursday. However, he and two of his colleagues, Mohan Persaud and Radesh Ishmail, were then instructed to build two foot bridges at Resource Sideline and Ankerville East, cut a track on the Resource Middle Walk Dam and blow a field at Ankerville East.
However, while clearing a tract to build the foot bridge at Ankerville East, the three men were attacked by the bees.
Stabroek News was told that the majority of the bees swarmed Poonoo, while a few stung the other two men, who were, however, able to make an escape.
Persaud and Ishmail reportedly shouted at Poonoo to run, which he did. It was while running that he fell into the nearby trench.
Poonoo was picked up and rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
This publication was reliably informed that the men were not wearing any sort of protective gear at the time of the attack
Poonoo, whose children are seven and two, was the sole breadwinner for his family. He had been employed at the Albion Estate for over 10 years.
The fatal incident has been reported to the Whim Police Station and an investigation has been launched. The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union has also since been informed of case as well.
The case was not the first reported instance where an estate worker has lost his life due to an attack by bees at the various estate backlands in Berbice.
