Almost three months after the death of Troy Resources employee Ryan Taylor, his family is still awaiting word on the findings of the investigation and how the company intends to compensate them.
Taylor’s mother, June Taylor yesterday told Stabroek News that since the passing of her son, she reached out to the company on several occasions but never received any positive word. She said that she even sent a letter to Ken Nilsson, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, but to date she is yet to receive a response. She noted that on November 8th, she met with Nilsson who assured her he would intervene and “come to a settlement” but she is still waiting on the results of his intervention.
Taylor, a geologist, died on October 8th while working on the construction of a “bench” in a mining pit at Troy’s Karouni, Region Seven gold mining operation. A slippage occurred, which led to him falling and being covered by the rubble. The company has said that while it has done its own report on the death, it will await the government’s findings. It is not clear if the government has concluded its report on the incident.
Meanwhile, June Taylor recently wrote to Nilsson and Troy’s Board of Directors on the matter. In the letter, which was seen by this newspaper, she said, “I have been lenient with Troy Resources. I have reached out to them for answers on my son’s death and also for them to discuss how they plan to assist us through compensation and to date I have not been given a word as to what and when they plan to do.”
She acknowledged that the company had assisted with the funeral expenses but at this time, the mother said that she is frustrated as she has become financially constrained. She noted that her son was her and his children’s financial support.
“His children and I have lost a major support from our lives and it seems as though we have been forgotten. I am now frustrated as the bills and other responsibilities are overwhelming and I am finding it difficult to cope,” the mother said in the letter, which was copied to President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and Director General at the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon.
June Taylor further related that former employees of the Australian mining company have related to her that her son had reported to his supervisors that the area in which they were working was unstable but they were unable to intervene as the wall collapsed immediately after, leading to his demise.
“It was reported to me that on the morning of his death he was moved from one site that he was working at and then taken to a new site (Hicks Pitt). While there with his supervisors awaiting further instructions, he mentioned to his supervisors that the wall that they were on felt as though it was shaking and before he could have said anything else, the wall collapsed and he was covered,” the mother related in the letter.
She claimed that from pictures and videos seen of the work site where the accident occurred, it was poorly lit and Ryan’s colleagues had related to her that the area only had one step instead of two due to the height of the wall.
In the past, the mother explained, her son had complained of the “unacceptable and ridiculous conditions they were forced to work under.” According to her, Ryan has always been vocal about the conditions under which they work but his many complaints fell on deaf ears.
“It was said to me that my son was very outspoken and at several meetings he would have lamented on these conditions to those in charge and nothing was never done to remedy the conditions,” the mother related in her letter.
The woman emphasised that the family are tired and frustrated by the manner in which Troy has been handling the situation.
“I feel as though I have been cheated of what I rightfully deserved. This ordeal is just way more than I have expected it to be. I am kindly asking you to assist my family as we fight this battle for justice to be served…” the mother pleaded in concluding her letter.
Troy’s report of the incident stated that at 2:25 am on the night shift, a newly-excavated three-meter-high embankment at essentially ground level upon which the Taylor was sitting, collapsed, bringing a “relatively minor amount of sand and rubble down on top of him.”
Following Ryan’s death, Minister in the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour Keith Scott on October 10th issued a cease order to Troy. On October 15th, Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally rescinded the order but Troy suspended operations after what it said was the knee-jerk reaction by Scott.
The action saw hundreds of workers being laid off.
On December 23, the company announced that it has secured needed capital for the immediate restart of its Karouni Gold Mine operations and said that it will begin rehiring workers.
