Interior policing regimen inadequate to protect miners – Shields
The upsurge of violent attacks on interior mining operations by armed gangs points to the urgent need for an increased security presence in interior locations, according to Executive Secretary of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association Edward Shields.
“The association very concerned about the attacks and particularly about the injuries and killings that occur during these attacks,” Shields told Stabroek Business.
According to Shields robberies at mining camps are nothing new. “We have always had such incidents, mostly by lesser criminals who may steal pieces of equipment or even gold if the opportunities present themselves. What is getting worse is the extent of the violence, the serious injury and killings,” Shields said.
According to Shields many of the robberies that have taken place in the past have gone unreported. “Whatever losses you report you still have to pay 5 per cent on your gold yield. Apart from that magistrates only travel to mining areas once every two months and some of the victims of these robberies have not considered it worth the while to resort to the courts.”
He said that what the larger mining operations had done was to recruit their own security. “Once you run a major mining operation it is absolutely necessary that you have security in your camp. The cost of security is high and a number of retired policemen and army personnel serve as security officers in mining regions,” Shields added.
Asked whether he felt that the sector was now being targeted by armed bandits Shields said he believed that was in fact the case. “With the price of gold being as high as it is what we are now witnessing is a trend towards well-organized attacks against mining camps by heavily armed bandits who are aware of the possible returns from those raids; and because of what is involved serious injuries and killings sometimes occur.
This year the mining industry is set to produce more than 300,000 ounces of gold for the first time since 2004 and Shields said that with the price of gold currently at more than US$1,000 per ounce earnings from gold this year will exceed the cumulative earnings from sugar and rice.
Shields told Stabroek Business that he felt the system of policing currently prevailing in interior areas was inadequate to provide proper security for the mining sector. He said he believed the police had become aware of the need to step up security in the mining regions area and Shields is aware adding that he had learnt of an intended reconfiguration of the force’s divisional structure, including the creation of a new division.