Miners at a special meeting yesterday declared no confidence in Minister of Natural Resources and the Environ-ment, Robert Persaud after unanimously expressing their opposition to the ministry’s decision to halt the processing of river claims.
A shout of “ayes” responded to the question put by president of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Patrick Harding on whether the miners wished to express no confidence in the minister. “We want our message to be loud and clear,” said one miner. Yesterday’s meeting was called after the GGDMA expressed alarm at government’s decision to halt the processing of applications for mining in rivers. The GGDMA management committee said that it is concerned that such a decision has been taken without consultation, and said the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) did not even have the courtesy to officially inform the association.
The miners have decided to set up a mobilization committee to discuss further moves and several yesterday vociferously called for action. “If we have to go to the streets, we will go to the streets,” said one miner. Over three dozen miners attended the meeting and several immediately pledged money for the initiative. The association received over $10M in pledges yesterday to aid their efforts, according to one miner.
Last week, following queries by Stabroek News, the GGMC said that it has been overwhelmed by reports from stakeholders of damage caused by “increasingly irresponsible mining in Guyana’s rivers and tributaries” and this is what has led to a cessation of approvals of river claims. The GGMC said that as a consequence of the reports, and a review of the negative impacts of river mining, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, through the GGMC, decided against accepting any new applications for river claims until further notice and consultation, particularly, with Amerindians and riverine communities. Effective June 1, no application for river claims has been processed by the agency.
“I see it as a scheme to get rid of the smaller players in the industry,” GGDMA administrative coordinator, Colin Sparman said yesterday. Harding said that they met with Persaud earlier yesterday and disclosed that the minister has decided to set up a committee comprising three persons each from the GGDMA, the GGMC and the Environmental Protection Agency. He said that they are prepared to have discussions with the minister but do not at present feel comfortable with his directives.
But, he said, the association feels that it was not respected and pointed out that it is not the first time this has happened. Other miners were more critical. “The minister does tell you what you want to hear. Then he doesn’t follow up,” former executive secretary, Edward Shields said. He recounted that the miners had obtained an injunction that compels the GGMC to accept payments for mining land which is being considered for Amer-indian land extension but the agency is not honouring it.
The question was raised with regards to who has the final say in decisions. Shields said that the GGMC is responsible for mining and the GGMC Board sets policy. Amid strident calls, he said that Persaud is “by character, a micro-manager” and it would be a waste of time to expect decisions from other officials. “The minister is making the board a rubber stamp,” another miner declared. They advocated a motion of no-confidence in Persaud.
Puppets
A fiery president of the Guyana Women Miner’s Organisation (GWMO), Simona Broomes urged the miners not to be like “puppets on a sting.” Supported with loud cheers from the other miners, she supported the no-confidence motion called for by the other miners. She recalled that they spent “a whole year” on the Special Land Use Committee but their concerns were not taken on board. “We gotta take a different direction,” she said. “We are too powerful of an industry to take this crap.”
Veteran miner, Cyrilda de Jesus suggested protest action. “We carrying this country for the longest while,” she said. “I wukking through. They could come and throw me out,” she added.
Former GGMC commissioner, William Woolford said that miners could still buy small-scale prospecting permits, locate their claims and work. He said that the decision to halt the processing of river claims “appears to be a complete misunderstanding” of the Act while explaining the procedures under the law. Shields said the decision appears to be an attempt to stop river mining completely and according to him, a lot of decisions are made based on “false information.”
Several miners spoke of the contribution that the industry has made to the economy of the country. One miner said that stopping river dredging would send numerous miners into unemployment and poverty. Major gold miner and businessman, Afro Alphonso said that miners were being blamed for a wide range of issues and pointed to a recent statement which said that the shortage of chicken was caused as a result of increased demand from the industry. But, he said, this gives an opportunity for farmers to produce more. “Everything is miners and we are doing so much all over this country,” he said.
Persaud had said that active river claims will not be affected but one miner raised the issue of what would happen when their permits expire next year and are not renewed. Equipment worth millions would be useless since they would have nowhere to work, he said.
After one miner pledged $100,000 for action, others rose to pledge as well and several pledged $1 million each. “We need action with the pledges,” one said, expressing the view of the miners that it is a time for action. The miners will set up a mobilizing committee to determine further actions.
“It is coming to crunch time,” one miner said.
