Rupununi gold miner chopped to death at Potaro

Last Updated on Saturday, 13 May 2017, 13:10 by Denis Chabrol

A gold miner from Central Rupununi, who was guarding a sluice box at a camp in Potaro, was chopped to death and a number of gold mats stolen, police said.

Dead is 56-year old Damon “Rastaman’ Scipio of Moco-Moco.

“Investigation so far revealed that the victim who was employed by a small-scale mining company at 111 miles Madhia, was performing duties at the company’s watch camp, guarding a sluice box with two gold mats, when he was fatally chopped three times to his head and once to his left wrist, the latter almost severed. The gold mats have been stolen,” the Guyana Police Force said in a statement.

Police said the incident occurred between midnight Friday and 6 O’clock Saturday morning at BK Old Road, Backdam, Potaro River.

Investigators suggested that they know the alleged perpetrator, saying “stringent efforts” are being made to “quickly apprehend a co-worker who is the prime suspect.”