HGP Nightly News – Construction workers were reportedly smoothing freshly poured cement on the roof of a two-storey building at Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara, when the structure suddenly collapsed, trapping several men beneath the debris and leaving one worker dead and seven others injured.
According to police, one of the injured workers told investigators that the team had just completed pouring cement on the roof using ready-mix trucks and was in the process of smoothing the surface when the building gave way. The collapse occurred at about 19:10h on April 15, while works were still ongoing at the construction site.
The dead worker has been identified as 46-year-old carpenter Radish Domingo of Mon Repos. Commander of Division 4C, Assistant Commissioner Khali Pareshram, confirmed that Domingo’s body was retrieved from beneath the rubble on Tuesday evening. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police also confirmed the identities of the seven injured workers as 43-year-old Jeremy Parker, a mason of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown; 37-year-old Lezande Pompey of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara; 38-year-old Enzo Hernandez of Enmore; 30-year-old Juzdel Castillo of Enmore; 32-year-old Satish Singh of Mon Repos; 45-year-old Colin Latchman of Nabaclis; and 36-year-old Nigel Chisholm of Good Hope.
Several of the injured men were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, while others were transported to the Sheriff Medical Centre. Their reported injuries include blunt trauma, lacerations and fractures.
Preliminary reports indicate that the workers were employed by businessman Omprakash Shivraj, also known as “Buddy,” and were among a group of 14 labourers attached to the construction project. At the time of the collapse, only a smaller team reportedly remained on site as they attempted to complete roofing works after other workers had already left.
Police and firefighters responded to the scene and assisted in the rescue operation, including the removal of injured workers from the rubble and their transportation to medical facilities. Domingo’s remains were later photographed and processed by police before being escorted to the Memorial Funeral Home, where a post-mortem examination is pending.
Investigators have since canvassed the area for CCTV footage and obtained statements from key witnesses as they work to determine what caused the building to collapse. The investigation remains ongoing.
