Dear Editor,
I would like to express my concern about illegal Brazilians mining in Guyana. I have been around this industry for the last 25 years, and can say that illegal Brazilian miners are given an opportunity to flourish here because some of the mines officers employed by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission allow themselves to be distracted from their duties by money or gold, and look the other way.
Some Brazilians have been able to flourish because they have ways of tricking our systems and arranging for large amounts of money to be sent out of the country. I would be surprised if the government of this country benefits much from their transactions.
I remember that just a few years back one of the regulations was that all Brazilians mining in this country had to employ at least 50% Guyanese, but this is not the case any longer, and more of these mining camps now have only Brazilian workers.
I write this letter in the hope that this situation will be rectified and that Guyanese miners can obtain more benefits from this industry.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
