Several workers from Australian-owned Troy Resources and Chinese-owned Zijin Mining-Aurora Gold Mines have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, who said his ministry will be investigating working conditions at both places.
According to the minister, a total of 41 employees from both mining operations between October and this month tested positive. At Troy Resources Guyana Inc (TRGI), 24 employees tested positive with six cases recorded this month, while 17 of Aurora Gold Mines’ (AGM) employees were positive.
The minister noted that the cases at AGM were discovered after 112 employees were tested.
“These tests were only done because the employees had to depart the country but now it raises the question of the working conditions there [at AGM] and how these workers have been working during COVID-19,” the minister said.
Hamilton told Stabroek News that the ministry has received reports of the companies treating employees who display the symptoms of COVID-19 for malaria and typhoid.
“What we are learning is that employees who are unwell are first treated for malaria and typhoid and are then tested for COVID-19…I want to be able to visit the mining site instead of having photo opportunities here in Georgetown and hear from the workers of their working conditions,” Hamilton stated.
The minister said that the Ministry of Health is currently working with the companies to ensure protocols are in place for COVID-19.
Hamilton is scheduled to visit AGM tomorrow to observe operations and gain an insight into working conditions. Another visit with the same objective is scheduled for Wednesday to Troy Resources.
Last month, Troy Resources confirmed that several employees had tested positive for the illness and as a result announced that all employees who were to be deployed to the Region Seven mine site would first have to be tested and show a negative result prior to being allowed to travel into the site.
Following the discovery of the positive cases, the COVID-19 Task Force and representatives of the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health were immediately notified and a course of action was discussed and agreed upon.
Troy Resources on Thursday stated that the COVID-19 Task Force is in support of the additional and mass testing being implemented by TRGI and all results are being shared with the Task Force. TRGI has roughly 300 employees at the project site at any given time.
Additionally, a memorandum sent to all employees informed that they will have to go through pre-travel screening before being granted permission to enter the work site.
Workers were told that all employees and contractors must visit the company’s Georgetown office to be screened before they are granted permission to travel. Once their rapid test returns negative they will receive approval to travel to the site. However, should an employee test positive after the rapid test, they will be subjected to a PCR test.
Those persons travelling by road, the company said, will be screened at the Tri-Corner by its onsite medical personnel before being allowed to enter its camp. Persons travelling by air should present themselves at the Georgetown office two hours prior to their departure time to allow time for the screening process, the company said.
Stabroek News was unable to contact Zijin Mining for comment.
