The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Tuesday said it was unaware of reports of damage to miners’ equipment during their eviction from the Omai ‘Bone Yard’ on New Year’s Eve.
Speaking with Stabroek News, acting GGMC Commissioner Karen Livan said she had no knowledge of the claims being made by a number of the miners who were evicted by GGMC wardens and police. Said Livan, “I, personally, am not aware of any complaints of equipment being damaged but I’m waiting on the GGMC team [which] was present at the eviction to give a report on everything that happened.”
Livan could not immediately say whether all of the illegal miners have left Bone Yard or whether the companies who have legally obtained claims for the area have started occupation. She said that the GGMC was awaiting a report to be submitted by relevant staff on the eviction and current state of affairs at the former Omai concession. Miners were removed after the enforcement of a December 31, 2011 eviction notice given by the GGMC in November of last year.
GGMC had claimed that the miners were given enough extensions by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds although they were illegal.
GGMC also stated that the miners were in breach of environmental mining practices and that the legal owners of the land were ready to take up occupancy.
Miners had over the weekend voiced concerns that GGMC wardens and heavily-armed police had forced them off the property. During this process, they claimed much of the equipment used during their operations, including hydraulic hoses, were damaged.
They had also said that they were not given enough time to organize the removal of their property and that many pieces of equipment were left unattended at the “Boneyard” and they wanted to know how they could collect them and who would pay for any damage done.
