Dear Editor,
One would have expected that with the change of the new administration the staff at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) would have changed the way they do business, however, that was just wishful thinking. In an earlier letter I had related my encounter with some mines officers after I received a report that some dredges were conducting mining activities on my gold claim in Mining District 2. As I pen this letter mining is still being carried out on this disputed claim.
The GGMC has the responsibility of ensuring that miners pay the rightful revenue to the country to conduct their mining activities, in accordance with the mining laws and most importantly, in an environmentally friendly manner. This is a great responsibility. With irresponsible mines officers on the ground the country can be robbed of much needed revenue to assist in nation building. The environment can also be destroyed through irresponsible mining.
I can recall some years ago, there was a cry that there were about 9,000 dredges operating in Guyana; however, only about 2,500 were registered. What was rather disturbing here, is that the other dredges which were not registered were not working on Mars or on another planet out of reach of the mines officer to regularize them. Mines officers are equipped with the necessary transportation to reach all the mining areas in Guyana, even with security if they so desire. The reason these dredges were not registered was because the authorities were remiss. They were responsible for the country being robbed of revenue.
I can recall on one occasion I received a report that a dragger (a large river dredge) was working on the banks of the Potaro river. I reported the matter to the mining station, but to date no action has been taken. Some time later when the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association held a meeting in Mahdia, and I raised the issue, the mines officer response was that they checked the area, but did not see any dredge working there and there was no evidence to suggest that any mining activities had taken place on the bank of the river. Many persons in the area saw the dredge working there; they even had pictures of the dredge operating.
I can also recall on another occasion I received a report that a similar dredge was working in the Potaro river close to the Denham Bridge at night. I reported the matter to the mines station and even had one of the guys that observed it working give a statement to the mining station; however, nothing was done.
Over the years the mines officers remain dormant and allow miners to work out miles of public roads. I believe that something needs to be done urgently to ensure our country receives its rightful revenue from the mining sector to assist in nation building, and also to ensure that mining is conducted in an environmentally friendly manner. I also believe that the time is ripe for some serious investigation at the GGMC. I would recommend that the authorities have a commission of inquiry into the functioning of the GGMC as I would be more than willing to testify.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Crawford
