Leon Lyken, 27, of Zeelugt New Scheme, Region Three was identified yesterday by relatives as the man who was killed on Friday morning at Frenchman Backdam, Upper Demerara River, after the gold mining pit he was working in collapsed.
Lyken’s aunt told Stabroek News yesterday that her nephew had journeyed to the interior to mine. She said that she had received the news that the pit had caved in on him and that another person was injured. The injured person sustained a broken foot and other injuries. She added that police are still investigating the matter.
Police Commander of Region Ten, Senior Superintendent Guy Nurse told Stabroek News on Sunday that the fatality occurred around 9 am on Friday.
Over the years there has been a number of mining pit cave-ins leading to deaths and injuries.
Just last month 47-year-old Stephen Mark Samuel of Karawab Mission, Pomeroon River died after a mining pit collapsed in the Puruni Backdam, Puruni River, Region Seven.
Last September, Ministry of Labour Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Officer Naipaul Persaud and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officials visited the Puruni River, Gold Mining District No 4, and had issued a cease work order after a 17-year-old boy died in a mining pit.
Following this, three nearby mining pit operations were issued with cease work and removal order notices following a collaborative inspection to see whether proper mining practices were being followed.
The OSH Department had said that it intended to conduct follow-up inspections within three weeks to ensure that the employers were complying with the recommendations provided to establish a safe and healthy working environment. It is unclear whether this was done.
Despite the efforts of the GGMC, mining pit deaths have continued as the skyrocketing price for gold has seen miners trying to capitalize.
