Miner killed after drunken argument

– reportedly beaten with a spade

A 53-year-old father of one is now dead after he was beaten with a spade at the Potaro Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), following a drunken argument. The 35-year-old suspect is in custody assisting the Police with their investigation.

According to reports, Mohabeer Gangadeen Kooblall of GAC Old Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, was imbibing at Potaro Backdam with his coworker when an argument ensued. F Division (Interior locations) Commander, Senior Superintendent Ravindranauth Budhram told this publication that during the argument, the suspect picked up a spade and dealt h Kooblall several blows in his head and about his body.
The incident occurred on Saturday between 17:30h and 18:00h and Kooblall died immediately. Budhram said the Police responded promptly after receiving the call and the suspect was apprehended and taken into custody.
The dead man’s mother, Ramdasie Ramlall, said her son called her at around 12:30h telling her that he needed to come home since he was in the area for over four months. She said that her son is a miner and a cook and that the dredge he was working on was closed for a few weeks but his employer, Alvin Rambarran, allegedly refused to transport him out of the area.
“Them leff he inside to watchman (guard) this dredge and when me ask he who and he deh pon the drudge, he tell me he and a next man and me must call the boss man (since) he want come out from the bush. He nah want stay deh no more pon the water top,” the grieving 71-year-old said.
She related that later that evening, she received a call that her daughter took but they refused to divulge any information pertaining to the call.
“I hear that me son get murder. That is all and until now me hear nothing from the boss man and me nah hear nothing about me son life and they come and say that they want he brother to go and one of me grandson to bring back he body,” Ramlall lamented.
The grieving woman said her son has been working in the mining industry for over 20 years and has been working with the Rambarran’s for over 15 years.
Kooblall was the sole breadwinner and took care of his mother. His body is being transported to Georgetown for a post-mortem examination, while Police investigations are ongoing. (Lakhram Baghirat)