EPA says two reports found Troy liable in death of geologist
-company says it hasn’t seen them
The EPA says two reports done by government agencies found Troy Resources Guyana Inc (TRGI) liable for the death of geologist Ryan Taylor at its Karouni mine site on October 8th, 2019 but the company says that it hasn’t seen either of the reports.
The contents of the reports were referred to in a letter by the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Vincent Adams to TRGI Head Ken Nilsson rebutting complaints levelled against him by TRGI. Nilsson had written to President David Granger complaining about Adams.
The investigations by the government agencies into Taylor’s death have not been disclosed to the public.
“Troy has never seen either of the two reports referenced and we are unaware that they have ever been completed or exist,” Troy Resources spokesman Ajay Baksh told Stabroek News yesterday.
“If they exist, why almost one year later, are these reports now being ‘leaked’,” he added.
The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Social Protection had started two investigations into the geologist’s death last October when the accident occurred.
GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison told Stabroek News yesterday that it isn’t “typical” for internal reports of that nature to be made public.
Efforts to contact de facto Minister of Social Protection Amna Ally proved futile as calls to her mobile number went unanswered.
Operations at the company came to a halt after it was issued with a cease order on October 10th by Minister in the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott following the death of Taylor.
Taylor died on October 8th while working on the construction of a “bench” in a mining pit. A slippage occurred, which led to him falling and being covered by the rubble. On October 15th, Ally rescinded the cease order but Troy suspended operations after what it said was the knee-jerk reaction by Scott.
Stabroek News reported in late March that Troy Resources was fined $1 million by the EPA for the spillage of some 5,000 litres of fuel at its Karouni worksite and it had been ordered to pause works to emphasise safety measures.
Nilsson had complained to President Granger about criticisms levelled against his company by Adams pertaining to the spill and fines and dubbed it excessive and unfair.
Plead our case
“In a letter to His Excellency President David Granger, we were forced to plead our case for an investigation into the excessive and unfair criticisms levelled against our company. These actions caused us and continue to cause us reputational and financial damage,” Troy said in a statement, following the circulation of the correspondence to Granger and Adams’ response.
“This is/was a correspondence between a company, one of its regulators, and the regulator’s line Minister H.E. The President. Accordingly, the company does not believe that notwithstanding that the press may have obtained copies of sensitive correspondence (however these may have been obtained) that it would be necessary or appropriate to comment publicly on these. In the circumstances, the company prefers not to make any comment on the matter,” Troy added.
In his response to Nilsson, Adams made reference to the two reports into the geologist’s death saying that it was not the first time since a fuel spill this year, that the company has had accidents on site and it was trying to distract that it was found accountable.
“The cheap personal attacks plus your imperious action for the President to take action as warranted, are nothing more than disgraceful attempts to distract from TRGI’s poor environmental health and safety record,” Adams said.
And when Nilsson told Granger that the Ministry of Social Protection (MoSP) and the GGMC had “both informed the company that they do not regard it as being at fault”, Adams said it was an untruthful statement.
“Sir, unfortunately, both agencies tell a starkly different story. The aforementioned MoSP report unambiguously concluded that TRGI is entirely responsible for his (Taylor’s) death, identified several causes – all attributable to TRGI — and recommended charges against TRGI as follows: obstructing an officer in the execution of his official duties…refused to permit the officer to visit the site…refused to submit documents formally requested, and (2) failing to report 12 cases of occupational diseases,” Adams wrote.
“The GGMC report also definitively ascribed fault to Troy Resources for its ‘act of negligence… and irresponsible behaviour’ causing the death of Mr. Taylor,” Adams added.
Yesterday, Adams said that he stands by the contents of the letter but would not go into details of the reports.
Temerity
“The EPA stands by its letter which speaks for itself, and which became necessary, only because of the temerity of Mr. Nilsson to write the President a letter laced with untruths, personal attacks against the EPA and its Executive Director, and telling him to investigate the Director and take action, which could only be interpreted as attempted intimidation and scare tactics to obstruct public officials in performing their lawful duties - an offence punishable by the laws of Guyana.
Instead of continuing to whine about “excessive and unfair criticisms” levelled against them, TRGI is advised to follow the examples of the other companies, foreign and local, which have appreciated the new customer focus and higher regulatory standards set by the EPA; and have been willingly cooperating with the EPA to implement for the betterment of Guyana. All we require is that companies embrace our new expectations which must be no less than what they faithfully abide with, internationally,” he added.
Adams said that also noteworthy, is the fact that that even though almost all operations in Guyana are not fully compliant with the new requirements, “not a single one has been terminated for these noncompliances; instead, we are working diligently with these companies to come into compliance while they continue to operate.”
“We welcome TRGI’s willingness to cooperate in the same manner in the best interest of the environment, health and safety of the people of Guyana; and in the best interest of TRGI, for the days of bullyism and intimidation of EPA are over,” he added.