Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and a team from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commissions (GGMC) met with residents and miners in Mahdia, Region Eight to discuss their concerns about the sustainability of the industry
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release miners voiced concerns about the pace of signing sublet forms, lack of electricity and need for better roads. While some praised the works done in the area others emphasised the need for mining officers to be moderate and balanced as it relates to cease orders. A devastating fire hit Mahdia last evening and the PM is to re-visit the area today.
Hinds, who also holds the portfolio for mining, reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring a secure and sustainable livelihood for citizens. He said too government would never attempt to reduce the efforts of the mining industry especially as regards small and medium-scale miners.
He also said the industry has made significant contributions to ensuring the economy remains strong. “This Government only wants what’s best for the interest of miners. We have and only want a good relationship with miners because no Government would create a position that would not improve the livelihood of our people,” he said.
On the issue of lands being misused by large-scale miners, Hinds reaffirmed government’s stance as it relates to titled lands granted to Amerindians. He said work has begun to provide title lands and as such, traditional Amerindian villages would be granted their land titles. “Groups in and outside of Guyana oftentimes criticise us saying that Amerindian title lands shouldn’t be like anywhere else, but we stand to our position that Amerindian villages is also part of Guyana, they are not autonomous.”
The Prime Minister also told the group that a mining lease is a sub-surface right that deals with minerals such as petroleum, and as such miners within Amerindian villages at the level of small and medium-scale mining can only proceed to ply their trade with the order of a Captain. If they fail to comply action will be taken against them.
While explaining the importance of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) Hinds said it is designed to position Guyana as a responsible partner with the rest of the world. “If we are not working to optimise the relations between forestry and mining, between those who work in the forest, we will not be doing the responsible things to ensure a proper sustainable future for Guyanese.” He told them that Guyana can receive as much as US$250M by 2015 as performance payment for avoided deforestation. However, he gave assurances that mining and lumbering operations will not cease.
