Corruption in Guyana’s gold mining sector is now quite commonplace according to industry sources. In fact, that which was once regarded as corruption has now come to be seen simply as taking advantage of ‘opportunities’ when they arise. How to put a brake on corrupt practices is not a question easily answered. “Corruption is so widespread, it has become accepted as a norm rather than an evil,” says a mining sector administrator.
Accusing fingers are being pointed directly at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) the state agency responsible for administering the mining sector. Its Mines Officers are said to be more concerned with securing a piece of the gold ‘action’ rather than with policing the industry. “You should watch what they drive,” the administrator says.
Mines Officers are responsible for, among other things, ensuring miners’ adherence to environmental and other standards in the sector. They are empowered to issue “cease work” when the rules are ignored. Apparently, the inducements to turn a blind eye on those indiscretions are stronger. Gold is trading at upwards of US$1000.00 an ounce.
Miners make sorties into the interior to check on the miners. Reports of major indiscretions by miners are few and far between. The extent of the environmental abuse and transgression of other mining regulations are usually unearthed mostly when high-level officials visit mining sites. That is when they hit the media.
Mines Officers also reportedly come to ‘arrangements’ with raiders caught working claims without official approval. In such cases deals are allegedly struck which allow the Mines Officers to be “cut in” for a share of the gold yield from the illegal mining operation……and life goes on.
The government, of course, knows that there is corruption in the sector. It is nothing new. It grows worse because gold prices are soaring. Works Minister and former GGMC Commissioner Robeson Benn has joined President Bharrat Jagdeo in criticizing corrupt practices, Perhaps he needs to be reminded that corruption in the industry didn’t begin yesterday.
President Jagdeo raised eyebrows recently when he hinted that government might assign detachments from the Guyana Defence Force to the interior presumably in an effort to bring a sense of order to the industry. The President, surely, must have been seeking to humour his army officers. Soldiers based at interior locations have been accused of ‘shakedowns’ and outright raids on mining camps and are believed, in some instances, to have had strong and lucrative ties to miners and mining operations. That’s a ‘no, no” Mr. President.
