Photo identification of persons venturing into the mining districts across Guyana is among proposals by miners to step up security in interior locations.
Executive Director of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Edward Shields, during the body’s bi-monthly meeting on Thursday, stated that the association is recommending that use of a form of photographic ID, whether a driver’s license or national identification card or other, be mandatory for persons entering the gold fields. He said that the association has been working to address the issue of security for the sector for some time and several documents regarding the issue have been completed and submitted to the relevant authorities in this regard. He said that at committee meetings, the issue comes up and according to him, the association has recently relied on the expertise of past president of the GGDMA Major General (Ret’d) Norman McLean as well as retired Assistant Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Paul Slowe in compiling security plans.
Commander of ‘E and F’ Division of the GPF David Ramnarine, who was present at Thursday’s meeting, stated that having a photo ID is a significant move and he noted that he had discussed the issue with the General Registrar’s Office. He said that what came as a surprise during discussions with officials at the office was that there was a case of “a Brazilian National carrying around a Guyanese birth certificate.”
Ramnarine told the three dozen plus miners that the police force needed to express its deepest appreciation to members of the public, more so the miners who have assisted the police in solving crimes occurring within the division. He said that the police have been able to solve most of the criminal activities occurring in the division, and he noted that the miners’ cooperation played a key role. He said that he understands the miners’ perception of being “squeezed” with regulations being implemented to strengthen the industry as well as the focus of the Low Carbon Development strategy (LCDS) and what its implications are for the industry.
Increased security
He said that he understands how valuable the sector is, based on rising market prices for gold, and according to him, the latter may have brought a consequent increase in crime in the mining areas here. Ramnarine noted that the police force, with its limited resources, has beefed up security at strategic locations within the interior. He noted that there is increased security at Bartica, with the placement of an eight-man unit of anti-crime specialists there. He also noted that the team has been placed at the busy location to make its members more familiar with the area and its environs.
Security has been beefed up at Itabali, another mining location close to Bartica, as well as at Port Kaituma, Cork Wood and Kurupukari along the Linden /Lethem trail. Ramnarine noted that over the next two months, there will be an improved police presence at Puruni in the Cuyuni area in Region 7, and he added that there are on-going discussions with a private firm to have a police outpost established at the latter location. He added that a police outpost will soon be established at Aranka, also in the Region 7 area.
The commander noted too that of the 27 murders recorded so far in ‘E and F’ Division, 18 were in the mining districts but he noted that most of them were as a result of what he termed ‘disorderly behaviour.’
At the moment the police have evidence that there is a high powered weapon being rotated within the mining areas in Region 7, and at the same time a team of police officers are in the Bartica area pursuing a suspected bandit who was allegedly involved in armed robbery. Ramnarine said the man, Damian Little, called ‘Tattoo,’ is out on bail for armed robbery committed last year.
Challenging future
Meanwhile, at Thursday’s meeting, the small and medium scale miners present were told that the industry has to prepare for a challenging future, with various regulations being put in place. As regards the six-month’s notice which the industry has sternly opposed, Shields said it was not sure how the issue stands. He stated that the industry will have to await the outcome of a final discussion with President Bharrat Jagdeo on the issue, and he noted that the issues facing the industry today are mainly environmental in nature.
Woolford of GGMC noted that he is aware of the challenges facing the mining industry and he said that a recently completed Code of Conduct document for mining is being circulated to readily equip miners. He added that the challenge is to ensure that all the relevant stakeholders follow the codes and he noted too that he visited several mining areas recently and he was of the view that “a lot could be done in terms of disseminating information.”
During a question and answer segment of the meeting on Thursday, several issues were raised, including the availability of medical supplies to the industry in remote areas. One miner noted that the public health officers sometimes charge a fee for drugs while visiting the areas and it was noted that the authorities had cause to remove medical supplies, which should have been available free to the mining areas, from shops there.
The recent landing incident involving the Guyana Defence Force’s SkyVan at Timehri, when the aircraft’s main landing gear (nose wheel) broke, also came up for discussion. A miner from the Ekereku area at Guyana’s border with Venezuela noted that the aircraft was the only form of transportation available to miners there. He said too that the airstrip, because of its deteriorating state could only accommodate the particular aircraft.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the absence of the GGDMA President Fred McWilfred came up for debate. Miner Stanislaus Jardine noted that he should have been at the meeting as president. Shields noted that some seven week ago, the executive of the GGDMA held a meeting during which McWilfred was asked to explain his position on a particular issue and he (McWilfred) indicated that he needed two days to answer. To date, the association has not heard from him.
