As activities for Mining Week kicked off yesterday at Mahdia miners used the opportunity to reiterate their calls for improved services to the community.
“Well we used the opportunity to remind the PS (Permanent Secretary Joslyn Mackenzie) basically about roads, water and that people need lands to work,” Chairman of Region 8 Mark Crawford told Stabroek News.
The miners said that they were disappointed that Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment (MRNE) Robert Persaud was not present at the opening, but were satisfied that Mackenzie made note of their complaints and promised to follow up on the matters.
In his address Mackenzie pledged MRNE’s continued support for the miners acknowledging that there was a lot to be done. He said that works would be done in phases but that it was the objective of his ministry to ensure that the needs of the miners be met.
In a subsequent press release the ministry echoed most of what was stated by Mackenzie. “The Government of Guyana, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission remain resolute in [their] commitment to the mining sector and to the community of Mahdia,” the release said.
“We are cognizant of the challenges of the constraints facing the mining sector and every effort is being made to overcome these challenges,” the statement added.
Mention was made of the recently signed $70M
contract for the rehabilitation of a section of the Mahdia Road from Brian Sucre Junction into Mahdia.
A site visit and inspection of the community’s internal roads is planned in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government.
According to the release financing of $80M will also be provided for the construction of a water treatment facility for Mahdia.
The miners informed this newspaper that yesterday’s opening was fun filled as they played games, interacted with each other and partied.
