President Bharrat Jagdeo has conceded to the requests of scrap metal dealers for 132 containers with scrap metals to be released from the wharf station for export but the suspension of the trade remains, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported on Friday.
The containers have been sitting on the wharf for the last six months after the government had instituted yet another ban on the trade of non-ferrous scrap metal, which includes brass, copper and aluminium, following more reports of vandalism.
In April this year, the Office of the Prime Minister had announced the suspension.
On Friday, Executive of the Guyana Metal Recyclers Association Desmond Sears led a delegation of dealers to a meeting with President Jagdeo at the Office of the President to discuss the issue.
Jagdeo had lamented that vandalism had become an intolerable situation, which Sears said is being addressed through collaboration of the scrap metal association, utilities and other stakeholders.
Sears told GINA that consideration has also been given for the release of about 15,000 tonnes of metals still locked away in various yards, after a process of verification.
Vandalism of various private and state property and commercial building sites containing metal had been widespread, resulting in damage to property belonging to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) site at the Lama Conservancy, the pumping facility of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the rails around church yards and accessible burial grounds, GINA noted.
In 2007, the Old Metal Dealers’ Act was amended granting government the authority over the scrap metal trade.
