Miners attacked, excavator, ATV stolen in Kariako – GGDMA

…says Chinese Landing residents, leadership armed with guns, cutlasses attacked mining crew

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is calling for the immediate arrest and investigation of persons allegedly involved in an attack on a mining crew operating in Kariako Village, Region One (Barima-Waini) during which an excavator and an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) were reportedly stolen. In a statement issued on Friday, the association said several employees of mining operator Wayne Vieira were injured during the incident, which occurred on Thursday and are receiving urgent medical attention.

According to the GGDMA, about 15 persons from Chinese Landing Village travelled more than 13 kilometres (km) to Kariako, where the mining crew was working with the permission of the village’s Toshao, Collis Samuels. The association alleged that the group confronted the excavator operator, identified as Eon Perry, while he and other employees were working in the area. Among those identified by the GGDMA were Chinese Landing Toshao Nikita Miller, Cleveland Pearson, Oral Fernandes and Selwyn Miller, who the association said is the brother of Nikita Miller.