Gold miners in the North West say they will now spend less time travelling to the capital to acquire equipment or receive training with the opening of a Machinery Corporation (Macorp) branch at Port Kaituma.
The facility, located on the Port Kaituma Main Road, was yesterday declared open with Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud stressing the need for regulations to be observed.
“We need to examine our regulations further when equipment is purchased and deployed to look at ways in which it is not only the responsibility of the buyer, but also whether or not we can share some responsibility with the supplier that it [the machinery] is used in the conduct of legal mining and that it follows our regulations,” Persaud told attendees.
Making special reference to the Global Positioning System (GPS) on some excavators Persaud said that data collected could help his ministry.
“Take for instance the excavators they are now coming with GPS technology… and we are hoping that at some point in time you can share that info with us…,” he said.
“Whereby you know where the excavators are and if we are able to use that info and map them, we will be able to know whether they are they are working on property that was awarded to the individual… [or] if they are encroaching.”
Macorp’s Chief Executive Officer Jorge Medina later told Stabroek News that it was the first time he was hearing of the need for future sharing data. He explained that the GPS located on the equipment was there not for enforcement of regulations but to provide his customers with needed troubleshooting assistance and help if need be.
In his address he pointed out that the location was chosen because of the magnitude of sales they receive from miners in the area; to cut back on their “down time” as they enjoy the benefits of integrated solutions. “You now have more time to be more productive …CAT is applying more and more technology in its equipment… today we are here to confirm our commitment with the mining sector,” he said.
Persaud also stressed that although there is the advent of technology to make mining less laborious and more efficient there is and always will be the need for sustainability and earth friendly mining.
“I want to challenge suppliers and that includes Macorp; if you want mining to stay to progress to be efficient we must also ensure that it is done in accordance with the laws, with our regulations and good mining practices. Integrated solutions, from our standpoint, have to run the entire gamut,” he said.
The minister informed that in the Region 1 District 5 area there are 65 prospecting licences, 430 medium scale prospecting permits, 30 mining permits and 63 special mining permits. Further, he noted that sometime early next year another 123 blocks that were awarded to miners through a lottery process this year will be completed and they will add to the district mining statistics.
Speaking to Stabroek News miners at the event expressed gratitude and pointed to areas of benefit having the company there would bring. Some said they were out of the “backdam” awaiting parts scheduled to come on flights from the city.
“I am very happy about this branch because it will save miners not only the money but the time… to fly to Georgetown for parts… We have been wanting this for a while now,” Pamela Moses a female miner of Yakishuri told Stabroek News.
Gavin Danraj who once operated a dredge at Big Creek explained that the branch could not have come at a better time. He said some miners would sometimes have to ride an ATV for many hours and long distances to not only come out to Port Kaituma but then travel additional days to the city using up valuable time.
Macorp explained that an additional 8% markup of its prices for equipment at Providence will be added to those sold at Port Kaituma not to make a profit but to try to recoup transportation costs.
