Small scale gold miners yesterday protested at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for more time at the former Omai Gold Mines concession—but the regulatory agency says it is time for the miners to leave because several extensions have been granted and they are in breach of mining regulations.
Protesting outside the Brickdam offices of the GGMC, the miners, with placards in hand, said that they invested millions of dollars in equipment to extract the gold and they cannot afford to abandon the area just yet. They also claim that they were used as political tools for Region Ten votes by the ruling PPP/C, which allowed their operations to avoid upsetting Lindeners before the elections.
Leader of the protesting group Adrian Timothy told Stabroek News, “The former president [Bharrat Jagdeo] talk to us before and give us permission to work the area. Before election, no one tell us anything. Now election done, we hear we gat to move. This ain’t right. We feel used man, really used, because they know if they did tell we move before they won’t a get no Linden vote. All awe here is hard Linden workers. ”
However, when asked if he knew that they were working illegally on the land, he replied “But they give us a extension paper and is right here (at GGMC) we is come and sell we gold so how we illegal?”
Timothy explained that the GGMC, in an effort to get them to move, had distributed additional blocks nearby, however, he said that they were all barren. For the time the miners did prospecting there, he said, nothing was found and so they returned to the “sure gold find” Omai concession.
However, acting Commissioner of the GGMC Karen Livan, at a press briefing on the situation at that agency’s library, later told reporters that the contention began over a year ago when the miners were found illegally occupying an area of the Omai concession called “Bone yard.”
She said that the GGMC made them cease their illegal operations, however, they subsequently formed themselves into a 24-person group—“Kumaka Syndicate”—and sought an audience with then Commissioner William Woolford, who told them that the area was closed. She said they then visited President Jagdeo, who referred them to Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. Hinds, on compassionate grounds, allowed them a three-month working period, ending on August 13th 2011, Livan added. In early September, they once again approached the Prime Minister and were given yet another extension, ending in October. Last month, for the third time, the miners met again with the Prime Minister who gave them their final extension, which expires on December 31st, 2011, she said.
During all the group’s engagements with Hinds, Livan said that the GGMC undertook the task of cutting boundary lines and marking blocks so that the miners could relocate. The miners, she said, “did not consider this to be of interest to them.”
Livan said there will be no further extension given to the miners and they are required to remove by tomorrow or they will be evicted by GGMC officials and, if necessary, the police. She also emphasized that the miners were working in small spaces, resulting in unsafe environmental practices and breaches and she produced photographs to back these claims.
As for the claims by the miners that they were used as political tools, both Livan and GGMC Manager Kampta Persaud said that they could only speak on behalf of GGMC and that political matters should be taken up with the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, in addition to the illegal works and mining malpractices, Livan said that the legitimate title holder of the site is about to assume occupancy. Sources told Stabroek News that contrary to reports that a foreign company was given legal occupancy of the site, it was divided and leased to five companies.
The Chief Executive Officer of one of the companies granted a lease to work told Stabroek News that he had bid over one year ago and had undertaken feasibility and exploration exercises numerous times already at his own cost. He said that upon visiting the site, he was appalled to see numerous tents and businesses erected. At night, he said, the area comes alive since many who claim to be miners encourage prostitution, alcohol bingeing and the use of illegal drugs. He added that he was ready to take up legal occupation and would welcome any of the miners into his workforce once they pass security and medical requirements set by his company.
