Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan on Monday met with representatives from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) to discuss security challenges in the mining sector and he announced afterward that there would be new criteria for the granting of gun licences to miners, including the payment of taxes.
Ramjattan also told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the police must put more effort into enforcing the law in the mining sector.
A GINA report said the minister asserted that there should be a quickening of the processing of individual firearm licences and the processing of licences for private security personnel.
However, he noted that big mining companies with large staffs often apply for security licences, not licences for individual staff members.
Applications for individual firearm licences “will always be fast-tracked,” according to Ramjattan, though not every applicant will be granted a licence. “I have already expressed … I wanted a criteria change and not simply because you are an applicant you get,” he said.
Further, he added, only miners who pay taxes would be considered for firearm licences. “A lot of people say they are mining.
When you ask them how much dollars in taxes they have paid, I understand they pay nothing! But, they want a firearm licence…,” he said.
Another criterion that miners would be asked to meet is “…good behaviour within the mining sector and that means plenty. If we get information from the divisional commander or police officers that these (applicants) are not persons who have been behaving well in communities, they are not going to be granted licences.”
The minister also said he is concerned that ex-miners with gun licence continue to bear arms. “We understand that a huge number of firearm licences have been granted to people who are undeserving…They indicated that some persons went into the mining industry and managed to get firearm licences. I will be reviewing these when their application for renewal comes up next year, because very many of them have left the industry. It is my opinion at this stage that those should be taken back if they (licence holders) are out of the industry,” he added.
According to the GINA report, the meeting also discussed the high incidence of crime in the mining areas, the need for timelier processing of work permits and better enforcement of traffic laws in these areas.
Ramjattan gave assurances that his ministry will continue to conduct random sweeps in the interior to unearth illegal items.
He also informed GGDMA members that work permits will now be processed through the Ministry of the Citizenry.
Ramjattan also spoke of the importance of enforcing traffic laws in mining communities to minimise the damage to roads. The ministry will be working with the Public Infrastruc-ture Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to determine the rules, regulations and terms of conditions contained within the “road users agreement” that miners signed to ensure its effective en-forcement, the GINA report added.
