Dear Editor,
Our President clearly stated last year at the miners meeting that no lands in Guyana will be held up specifically for the LCDS, yet recent applications for mining blocks in the Rupununi have been denied on these grounds. Why is this so when the President clearly stated otherwise?
Just in case the President is not aware, mining provides jobs for the South Rupununi where employment opportunites are scarce. These jobs pay well and allow families to have a comfortable lifestyle. Any attempt to stop or eventually close mining activities in this area will stop jobs and life will be difficult without proper income. Also, why only stop mining in the Rupununi while other mining areas do not seem to have the same restrictions?
In all fairness, the Rupununi deserves to benefit from the present high gold price as much as any other area. Whoever believes that mining does not play a big role in the income of the communities in the South Rupununi is urged to send in officials to the areas to see for themselves.
They should not only listen to the Toshaos and NGO organisations. They should speak to the many persons who work in the mines or who do good business with the miners and let them tell them how much mining benefits the communities.
They should rethink mining in the Rupununi and let it be allowed to develop as in other parts of Guyana. We are told that some of the richest Amerindian communities in Guyana are those that support mining. Give us the same choice as those communities.
We also ask that the President please keep the promise that he made to the miners – that no land will be taken away from mining for the LCDS.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
