Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman yesterday announced that he had instructed that additional lands be released to small miners.
However, it wasn’t without stressing their duty of compliance with the laws and policies governing mining, while at the same time implementing best practices for themselves, workers and the environment.
“I am instructing the GGMC’s Board and Closed Area Committee to urgently release lands with known occurrences of minerals and accessibility to small scale miners in each of the six mining districts,” Trotman said at a meeting held for small miners at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.
Later, he would explain the conditionality. “We are not just going to grant concessions if you are not responsible. You can’t expect government alone to do everything. You have a responsibility as well,” he said.
He led an interactive session, chaired by Junior Minister of Natural Resources Simona Broomes, who the miners openly welcomed to her new post. Many stated that they were “very, very happy” that she was a government representative for the sector. The panel also included representatives from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
Present also were newly appointed Chairman of the Board of GGMC Stanley Ming, who was introduced to the miners and Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources Odinga Lumumba.
Over three hundred small miners attended the meeting, where some were vocal about their concerns over the mining sector and sought redress from government. At the top of their list was the need for land though they made clear it should not be in barren and desolate areas.
“We need land that we can work and gain not work and hope to gain… not behind God Back,” a fiery Judith David, a former Member of Parliament, said to the thunderous applause of those in attendance.
“Why must the small miner like me pay $3M to work a claim? Why must I pay six ounces of gold as rent? They must have stipulations in leasing the land to small miners…it is time we be given a chance to work,” she added.
Articulation
David, who seemed to cover most of the grievances of the miners, continued listing complaints and recommendations on a high-spirted note, saying that while she can be very formal, she sought a more practical and layman’s approach in her articulation as she feels it relates more with her fellow miners.
She said that miners welcomed government’s implementation of duty-free concessions for small miners though these should be more commensurate with their output. She believes that the current system was not in alignment with the needs of small miners and benefits the large scale mining companies more.
“While we welcome all the foreign companies…we produce the most gold…and by right charity begins at home. All the benefits and the things these big companies are enjoying we must get too,” she said to more applause.
David asked government to ensure there is a policy to protect small miners from creditors of equipment as there are currently no proper guidelines regarding seizures when national production is low. As a result, she said that miners are left to the mercy of those equipment dealers, although sometimes millions had already been paid.
“Sometimes you pay $16M and they seize your excavator… it is time our government help us small miners to get an excavator. When we finish, this gold is left in Guyana. Guyana benefits and this government can call on any small miner at any time and say ‘I want a contribution’ and we put it in. We need a contribution this morning… we need an excavator to work,” she stated. At this point two emotional miners, a man and a woman, rose from their seats and shouted across the room. “I lose mine for $15 (Million),” she said, while the other added, “She is right they tek mine and I de nearly done pay.”
A dredge owner from Linden pointed out that they were working in areas where criminals had guns that were bigger than the police. He said that in areas prone to armed robberies, gun licences should be easier to obtain for miners. He lamented the arduous task he has been through with his application for a licensed firearm to no avail. “I want you to tell me what I should do. Shouldn’t I get an unlicensed firearm then?” he questioned.
While stressing that he should not obtain an unlicensed firearm, Minister Broomes promised the man that she will have him speak with Commander of ‘F’ Division, who will assist him in the process.
In relation to David asking government for the possible provision of excavators, Timothy Junor proposed an equipment pool for miners.
Junor also spoke on miners’ education on sustainable mining practices and the GGMC’s role in having correct maps and demarcations to assist persons with the features of a particular area.
In addition, he also said that miners should be educated on gold purity and it should be mandatory for gold buying agents to place signs that they are certified in their places of business and they should also explain how they arrived at purification numbers when testing gold before it is bought.
From the Rupununi Miners Association, a call came to government for the establishment of a Gold Board office in Lethem as miners in surrounding areas in that region don’t find it feasible to travel far distances to sell their production. He explained that sometimes it was easier for persons in that area to go to Brazil to sell the gold they mined here.
At the end of the session, both ministers of government assured the miners that their concerns did not fall on deaf ears and that measures would be put in place so that those complaints do not have to reach to their levels but can be dealt with by the designated authorities.
“Because the system is so broken, people believe that only at the level of ministers or the president that their issue can be resolved. We have to fix the broken system where the agency responsible will look at your concerns… late last year we did a ‘wash down’ at GGMC and I am prepared to do another wash down,” Trotman stated in agreement with all in attendance.
However, he stressed the equal role of miners to make for a smoothly running sector and that as they ask for concessions they have to also declare their true gold earnings.
“You can’t be declaring 23 ounces of gold and ask for a concession for an excavator knowing that you made over 300 ounces. Where is the gold? Pay your royalties, we’ll give you the concessions,” he said.
