(Kaieteur News) – A workplace accident at Albion Estate, Corentyne, Region Six, has claimed the life of 23-year-old Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) employee Latchman Raghoo, leaving his family and colleagues demanding answers.
Raghoo, of Albion Front, Corentyne, was a supernumerary constable attached to the Albion factory and had been employed by GuySuCo for almost six years. According to information gathered by Kaieteur News, Raghoo was injured on Tuesday after he was reportedly struck and crushed by an electric forklift at the estate. He was subsequently hospitalised and died on Thursday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
His death has since prompted calls for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Nathanial Raghoo, the deceased man’s brother, told Kaieteur News that Latchman was stationed at the sugar bond, where a forklift was also in operation.
Latchman Raghoo
Based on information provided to the family, Raghoo was pinned against a stack of sugar bags by the forklift. “The forklift guy end up and squeeze him into the sugar bags. He was reversing. I can’t really say, because I wasn’t there, but the information we’re having, they say that the guy reverse and braced him into the sugar bags, and he had multiple fractures,” Nathanial said.
An ambulance was called and Raghoo was taken to the estate dispensary before being transferred to the Port Mourant Hospital. He was subsequently referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, but because of the severity of his injuries, he was eventually rushed to the GPHC.
Nathanial said his brother suffered severe injuries, including a crushed right hip and a fracture to his left leg above the ankle. He said Raghoo’s condition deteriorated rapidly, with his organs, including his heart, beginning to fail. “The family is trying to hold up, but it is not going to go down like this,” Nathanial stated. The fatal incident has also drawn calls for greater accountability and workplace safety.
Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Vinceroy Jordan, who spoke with the bereaved family, called on GuySuCo to provide thorough answers surrounding Raghoo’s death.
Jordan said the incident should not be treated as just another workplace fatality. “A worker went to work and did not return home. His family, colleagues and the wider sugar community deserve answers, accountability and transparency,” the Opposition MP said. On Thursday, shortly after Jordan’s public comments, GuySuCo issued a statement expressing condolences to Raghoo’s relatives and said the corporation remains committed to supporting the grieving family. GuySuCo also said it would ensure that “all relevant internal processes are followed” and facilitate a full review of the circumstances surrounding the employee’s death.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) said it was “profoundly saddened” by Raghoo’s death and expressed solidarity with his family, colleagues and all those affected.
GAWU said the loss of any worker in the workplace is a serious concern and called for a “full, transparent, and comprehensive investigation” into the incident. According to the union, the investigation should establish the facts surrounding Raghoo’s injury and subsequent death, identify any underlying causes or safety deficiencies, and determine whether existing occupational health and safety procedures were adequate and properly implemented.
The union further called for clear recommendations and corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. GAWU also urged GuySuCo to strengthen occupational health and safety protocols across all its estates and workplaces, including ensuring that workers and other personnel are adequately protected, properly trained and provided with the necessary safety equipment. “The union believes that occupational safety must remain a fundamental priority in the sugar industry,” GAWU said.
Source: Kaieteur News
