Minister of Natural Resources Robert Persaud says that 32 applications were received in 2010 for Prospecting Permits (Medium Scale) in the New River Triangle but none was granted.
His written answer to a question posed by APNU MP Joe Harmon was circulated in parliament yesterday. It came in the wake of a furore over Persaud’s granting of a survey permit to Muri Brasil Ventures in the New River area which contains a clause that requires the GGMC to grant a maximum of 18 prospecting licences at any time the company applied as long as standar practices were complied with.
Persaud further ex-plained that one Permis-sion for Geological and Geophysical Survey (PGGS) was issued to Muri Brasil in the area on November 7th, 2012. He said that ISO 9001 certified procedures were adhered to as it related to the PGGS. He noted that this was done via a public advertisement for the submission of proposals.
He contended in his answer that a PGGS is exclusive to exploration and does not include any mining and/or profit related activities.
Persaud has come under pressure over his non-disclosure of the terms of the Muri Brasil permit to the Natural Resources Com-mittee of parliament and to the Guyana Human Rights Association in separate meetings. It has led to a member of the parliamentary committee, Joseph Harmon calling for his resignation.
