A Cuban citizen lost his life this Tuesday after being electrocuted at a construction site in the New Houston area, East Bank Demerara, in Guyana, when the scaffold he was working on shifted and made contact with a high-voltage overhead power line.
According to the Guyanese media INews Guyana, the accident occurred in the early hours of the morning at a new construction site near Caneview Avenue.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while two other individuals who were also on the structure were injured and were taken to Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention.
Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), the state electricity company, confirmed in an official statement that the scaffolding "rolled off the building and came into contact with one of our 13.8 kV primary distribution lines."
The company extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and expressed sympathy for the injured, wishing them a "swift and full recovery."
In the same statement, GPL urged contractors, workers, and the general public to exercise extreme caution when operating near its electrical infrastructure, and emphasized that "appropriate safety measures must always be maintained to prevent similar tragedies." The identity of the deceased Cuban was not disclosed.
This new death occurs just four days after the passing of another compatriot in the same area: Alex Jesús González Beria, 23 years old, died crushed by two containers at the Muneshwers maritime terminal, also in Houston, East Bank Demerara, on August 27.
The tragedy this Tuesday is part of a string of deaths and serious accidents that have affected the Cuban community in Guyana throughout 2026. In July, Yuviosmar Galindo Cardona, 25 years old, died at a construction site in Providence after being struck by a high-pressure hose.
In June, two Cubans lost their lives in yet another workplace accident, and a third compatriot was found dead alongside a road in Coldigen. In May, Dainier Vegas Infante, 23 years old, was shot dead at his workplace in Georgetown.
Guyana has become an increasingly attractive work destination for Cubans, drawn by the economic boom driven by oil exploitation and the high demand for labor in the construction sector.
However, safety conditions on construction sites remain precarious in a context of rapid expansion with insufficient oversight.
The Ministry of Labor of Guyana recorded 13 deaths and 64 non-fatal incidents in workplaces between January and April 2026, figures that reflect the serious issue of occupational safety that the country faces.
Guyanese President Irfaan Ali urged in mid-August that Cubans interested in working in the country should enter through legal channels and under the same conditions as local employees, a call that has not stopped the flow of migrants or the accidents that disproportionately affect them.
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