In the blink of an eye, the under-construction building at Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara (ECD), came crashing down, trapping eight workers beneath the rubble. One of those workers, 46-year-old carpenter Radish Domingo of Mon Repos, ECD, was killed, while the others sustained injuries about their bodies. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening at around 19:10h, as the men were working on the roof of the two-storey structure. Now, one family is left mourning the loss of a loved one. Speaking with this publication, Radish Domingo’s niece, Madeena Domingo, who, her voice trembled as she remembered her uncle, described him as nothing short of a devoted provider. “… he was a hardworking man. He has one daughter that he loved, she’s about to write CXC sometime this month or next month. He used to work, he used to provide for his daughter. He was a hardworking man,” Madeena shared. She added that beyond his role as a provider, he was full of life. “He loved going out. He loved his friends. He was always energetic. So losing him… it’s something really big. It takes a big toll on all of us, but we’re trying to cope.” Skipping work was never an option for Domingo, as he remained committed to his trade daily. “He never wanted to skip a day from work. He was always there on time, no matter what,” she said. The matter is currently under investigation by the police and the Labour Ministry. According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the men were employees of a construction firm and were in the process of completing work on the roof when the structure collapsed.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) were summoned, and emergency personnel assisted in transporting the injured workers to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and a private medical facility.
Domingo, however, was pinned beneath the debris. When his body was eventually recovered and taken to GPHC, he was pronounced dead on arrival. He had been employed with the contractor for approximately 14 years and was the sole breadwinner for his wife and daughter.
Only a week ago, Labour Minister, Keoma Griffith, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety, health and well-being of all workers, while announcing the launch of a national campaign aimed at strengthening workplace standards. He emphasised that workplace safety must never be treated as optional.
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