-Persaud
Some mining operations in the Port Kaituma area will be closed down after they were found to be contaminating the community’s water system, according to Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud.
While he did not say how many operations, Persaud told reporters yesterday that some operations would have to be closed until they put themselves in line with the mining regulations.
Earlier this week, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) announced that it was experiencing operational difficulties at the company’s facility at Port Kaituma, “due to mining activities which have affected the water supply being utilized by the community….”
Persaud yesterday said there was an emergency meeting, held at Port Kaituma on Tuesday with personnel from the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), GWI, the Ministry of Local Government, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which produced a number of recommendations.
One of those recommendations was that the operations that were “felt to be interfering or in a way contaminating the water supply by poor tailings management, those would be shut off and they would focus on improving the tailings management in this regard.”
He said the GGMC and GGDMA will collaborate closely looking at temporary and long term solutions and working with the miners themselves in ensuring awareness.
According to GWI, the water production facility serving the community ceased operations as of Monday “due to mining activities affecting the source of water supply.”
GWI said its hinterland team indicated that due to the influx of mud at the source, the pump at the facility was unable to perform as per normal. “GWI’s hinterland team has advised that the source of water is unsuitable for distribution and cannot be utilised until a significant intervention is executed by relevant authorities to cease all mining activities affecting GWI’s operations in the community,” the company said, adding that this is the second such incident of the year in which mining operations have affected GWI’s hinterland service. It added that GWI’s hinterland team will be partnering with the regional authorities and all relevant parties to restore normal service to Port Kaituma in the swiftest manner possible.
