A press statement from the Ministry of Presidency on June 22, noted that Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman was instructed to launch the inquiry by President Granger.
According to the statement, the inquiry will be conducted by a multi-stakeholder Committee, who will work independent of the Commission but is authorised to request any relevant information from any employee through the Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in order to carry out its functions.
It was noted that the three-member Committee will comprise individuals knowledgeable and competent in their respective fields and will include the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association.
The statement explained that by July 31, 2015, a report detailing the Committee’s findings along with recommendations for immediate and long-term actions will be submitted to the Minister of Governance for implementation.
It further explained, “Our Human Capital is of pivotal importance to the sector and the country as a whole and cannot be lost to what may appear to be avoidable situations.”
A miner, Orlando Archer, died on Thursday, June 18 following a mining accident at Jumbie Creek, Pataro.
According to a police report, a mining pit caved in at approximately 11:20 hrs, trapping the young man. Archer, of Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, was pulled from underneath the rubble but was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahdia Hospital.
On May 17, another mining pit cave in claimed the lives of ten miners and left others injured in Mowasi Backdam, Potaro.