The Ministry of Natural Resources on Monday said that cease work orders were slapped on three unauthorized dredges in the Marudi Mountain area in Region 9 (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and 11 others were instructed to move on.
The Ministry in a release said that the operation was part of its continuing thrust to ensure adequate monitoring, compliance and enforcement in mining districts.
It said that the enforcement operation found three dredges were unregistered and most of the persons employed did not present documentation validating their occupancy in the mining district via mining privileges or certificates of registration.
Of the fourteen dredges in operation, ten were Guyanese owned and the remaining four were Brazilian owned.
There were eight six-inch dredges and six four-inch dredges. Some of the operations were also being supported by excavators.
The ministry release said that most of the personnel employed by the dredges were Guyanese and of thirteen Brazilians, eight were without work permits.
“All of the operators acknowledged that they were involved in raiding on a mining property and the GGMC advised operators that they were in contravention of the Mining Regulations and the resulting consequences. Only three of the operations were actually found to be working at the time of the inspection and were issued with Cease Work Orders (CWO’s).
Those who were not working were issued with Orders to Remove within five days”, the ministry release said.
The release did not state whether charges are to be brought against the operators of the dredges.
The release also said that the GGMC has launched a probe of alleged collusion by its officer in Region Nine to support operators engaged in illicit mining.
“Operation El Dorado will be intensified in all the mining districts to ensure compliance of the Mining Act and Regulations and is expected to be supported by the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Guyana Police Force”, the release vowed.
