Amid a public outcry, the Ministry of Natural Resources today issued a statement saying that Minister Robert Persaud had apologized to the Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Karen Livan over his statement and tone at a meeting with Brazilian miners on May 16.
Persaud had come under public pressure for an apology to be issued to Livan. GPSU President Patrick Yarde and others had condemned the Minister’s behaviour. Yarde addressed the matter at a press conference this week.
Following a claim by a miner at the meeting that he was given permission by the GGMC to mine on a government reserve this year, Persaud accused the GGMC of permitting lawlessness and addressed Livan by her first name at times as he reprimanded her. It was later proven that the miner had gotten the permission last October, not this year, and before Persaud had ordered the freezing of permits on state land to begin in December of last year.
“What seems very clear to me is that he seems to have an agenda of harassing Mrs Livan…attempting to undermine her performance and effective management of the geology and mines commission which seems to be consistent with…his motive of attempting to remove her from the time she was appointed commissioner,” Yarde told members of the media.
In a statement today, nine days after the controversial meeting, the ministry said:
“The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment rejects attempts to misrepresent comments and the tone of Minister Robert M. Persaud at a meeting with the Brazilian community held on May 16, 2012 in response to the Commissioner of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Ms. Karen Livan signing a contract with a Brazilian National to mine on a state reserve.
“After that meeting, the Minister and the Commissioner met on this matter where necessary clarifications were provided. Also, the Minister had conveyed his apology to the Commissioner if she felt offended by his statement and tone at the meeting as that was not his intention.
“Meanwhile, on the matter of the Brazilian being granted a contract to mine large river claims (20-25 miles of the Mazaruni River), initial findings revealed a possible breakdown of administration within the Commission resulting in the issuance of the contract for mining purposes. This is still being investigated by the Chairman and Board of Directors of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to re-examine the issuing of permissions/contracts and to make recommendations to strengthen the processing of all applications.
“Further, there will be no distraction from the efforts to improve the performance of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will continue as the management team, Chairman and the Minister met recently on the timely implementation of the outcome of the strategic management retreat held on April 28, 2012.”
