Minister in the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes today refuted a claim in a Guyana Times report that she had been mining on Amerindian lands.
The statement issued by her ministry follows:
Minister Broomes refutes libelous and scandalous claims by the Guyana Times
Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Ms. Simona Broome strongly refutes and condemns the scandalous, scurrilous and mendacious Guyana Times article which erroneously states; ‘Minister Broomes mining lucrative Amerindian lands’. In the Sunday Times (page 3) under the caption “land titling, conflict of interest fiasco brewing….Minister Broomes mining lucrative Amerindian lands-while justice denied to villagers awaiting title after eight years” the newspaper scandalously reports that Minister Broomes is among several persons involved in lucrative mining operations in Tassarene an Akawaio community located in the Upper Mazaruni, Region. This report is libelous and scandalous. Minister Broomes has never mined in the areas specified, and has not engaged in active mining for over two years.
Further the three blocks B-149/MP/100, B-149/MP/001 and B150/MP000 which the Sunday Times erroneously reports to have been issued in April 2013 were issued as prospecting permits to Ms. Broomes on August 16th 2006.
In 2012 Ms. Broomes entered into an exploration agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) with Pharsalus Gold Inc. (NBA as Troy Resources) to do medium scale prospecting on properties owned by her. Block B-149/MP001 was transferred to Persaud &Associates Trust Inc. (Guyana Company No. 7026) on 28th November 2014. As stated before Ms. Simona Broomes ceased to be an active miner over two years ago.
As President of the Guyana Women’s Miners Organisation Ms. Broomes has never engaged in mining in Amerindian areas. If the Sunday Times had engaged in ethical journalistic practices and called on the Minister for a response to the erroneous claims the newspaper would have avoided the law suit for Libel and slander which will be filed.
