Dear Editor,
Permit me to preface my article on a haunting note of inquiry. What more would it take for the Government of Guyana to institute stringent measures aimed at protecting the citizens against the sobriquet “ Africanized killer bees”, that has led to an exaggerated fear of how hazardous these insects are.
Deaths in Guyana from Killer Bees is nothing new, but what is highly unusual and visibly absent is the presence of stringent and continuous measures on the part of the Government to put an end to this mortiferous apiarian carnage.
International reports state that Africanised Bees are typically more aggressive and defensive than other species of bees, and react to disturbances faster than the European Honey Bees. They are sensitive to vibrations mistaking them for approaching predators. Another strange characteristic of this apian species is the displayed almost human-like behaviour. They are very determined insects. Human victims have reported seeking refuge underwater to avoid the sting, but the bees are willing to wait. The insects are alleged to have continued their attack when their targets come up for air. With each sting a pheromone is released signaling more bees from the colony to join in the onslaught. There have been reports of swarms of 300,000 – 800,000.
What is the Guyana Government doing about the continued loss of lives at the hands of these flying killers?
Chronology of some of the attacks:
January 2007 children from Zeeburg Secondary School were attacked in school, forcing the school to be closed until an experienced beekeeper visited and removed the nest.
In the same month beekeeping expert Linden Stewart contracted by the Ministry of Agriculture, removed a swarm of about 60,000 from the roof of the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown. According to Mr. Baydewan Rambarran, Regional Education Officer, Region Three, a similar attack took place at the Zeelandia Secondary School, Wakenaam Island, and the nest was destroyed.
Abdool Hamied, a farmer of Friendship, East Bank Demerara, was also attacked by killer bees on his farm and died while being transported to hospital.
May 2009—-Yvonne Abrams and family of L’Oratoire, Number 1 Canal Polder were attacked by the killer bees. Four dogs and 1 sheep were also killed.
August 2010—- Kawal Singh of Parika,
2011——- Sheikh Hassan of Eccles.
February 2012—— Cane Grove, Mahaica, Sanicharra Abdullah a Pensioner was killed by killer bees.
June 2012—- Cove and John Police compound, an attack temporarily shut down operations at the Divisional Headquarters,
September 2012—- Hazim Bacchus, a Gravedigger, was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital following an attack, but was pronounced dead on arrival
June 2013—- Pandemonium broke out at the Diamond Secondary School yesterday, after a swarm of killer bees invaded the school compound.
August 2014 – 9 year old Romesh Samaroo of Lima Housing Scheme , Essequibo.
January 2015— Bees caused closure of Stella Maris Primary School.
April 2015 – GuySuCo Sugar Estate workers were attacked several workers at the Utivulgt Sugar Estate, one worker, Corinne Greene of West-Meten-Meer-Zorg succumbed to bee stings.
March 2016—— Romesh Lalaram of Bath Settlement, and a GuySuCo worker for 23 years, became another statistic, following a bee attack.
August 2016— Rawle Singh from Phase 2 Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo succumbed after being attacked two days prior by a swarm of Africanized bees.
October 2016———Jeenarine Taijram a Tractor Operator for GuySuCo was stung to death while working on a dam at the Skeldon Estate, Berbice.
April 2017—- Teachers and pupils of Skeldon Primary School were forced to drop everything and rush out of the building after it was invaded by Africanised bees
November 2017 ——a male identified only as Ramnarine was killed while walking along the Mon Repos Public Road en route to the market.
March 2019—-Rameshwar Poonoo was clearing bushes while employed at the Albion Sugar Estate when he was fatally attacked by a swarm of bees.
April 2019—- Martin King returned to his Parfaite Harmonie residence to find that his six ferocious dogs had seemingly met their match in the form of killer bees.
October 2021—Sirpaul Rishi Hemraj, 62, a Ranger and former Chairman of the Water Users Association of Black Bush , and Dorothy Adams, a housewife of Rotterdam, East Bank Berbice.
December 2024———Daniel Darrell Snr., truck driver of Tabatinga, Central Lethem, died on Sunday after being attacked by a swarm of bees on the Hunt Oil Stretch. His son Darrel Jnr. was also attacked, escaping with injuries that will require surgery in the near future.
What is needed is an Advisory Committee dealing with Public Education, Public Information, Public Health, a Bee Management Plan and a fully functioning up and ready Extermination Unit. The input of all relevant stakeholders should be solicited so that a harmonious and lifesaving solution can be arrived at. Apiculturist and owner of several Bee farms across Guyana, and also an expert on bees, Frances Bailey made it very clear during one of his speaking engagements, that Guyanese see bees as enemies instead of co-existing habitants of the planet. He posited that in Guyana, we have the Africanised Bee which has adapted to the climate and weather patterns of Guyana. He also noted that bees do not attack without reason. Bees are deaf but they respond to vibration and scents.
The New Year is almost here. To Be or Not to Bee. Let us patiently wait and see.
Best regards,
Y. Sam