Miners are pleading with the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and Crown Mining Supplies to ensure quick removal of the company’s sunken dredge in the Mazaruni River, which continues to leave them cut off.
“We can’t get fuel. We can’t get food. If anyone is sick then I don’t know what’s going to happen because we can’t get to transport them because of the `Draga’ blocking,” said Joylyn Lynch, a miner who has been plying her trade in the area for over 13 years.
Lynch told Stabroek News that while there is an alternative route overland, it is not an option considered by the miners because of the deplorable condition of the road. “If we only use the roads, then it will take about two to three days because it is very bad and within that time if someone is sick they will surely die,” she said.
The dredge sunk at the Piremap Falls three months ago but only became a hindrance to users of the river after it shifted into the channel when the company tried to remove it. Several attempts to remove it since then have not been successful.
It was announced two weeks ago that MARAD and Crown Mining Supplies, which owns the dredge, would be intensifying efforts to remove the dredge.
The company had met with MARAD to discuss the way forward. MARAD had stated that over the past few months the company has been trying assiduously to remove the dredge from its current position. However, because of the high tide and the location of the dredge, it is difficult to remove and will require special equipment.
While MARAD had said that passenger and cargo vessels can traverse the area where the dredge is located and bypass channels are available for the smooth manoeuvring of vessels, miners who frequent the area have pointed out otherwise.
Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford had told Stabroek News that although cargo and passenger boats are currently using a back channel to access communities, navigation is dependent on the current water level in the river.
Lynch said that all of the boats have to pass through the main channel and that last week a few boats were able to pass through the channel because the tide was high but there are still many persons that are trapped in the surrounding areas.
“There’s a lot of people, especially miners that are trapped at the landing and if the road was good and the trucks wanted to drive there, then we could’ve gone but then we ain’t getting fuel and it’s not safe. People rob you there when you’re taking back gold and stuff,” she said, while pointing out that the river is the safest route to traverse.
“People finish working but if you see people on the landing that waiting and hoping to get a vehicle or some other way out to reach Bartica. Pork knockers and miners need access. Our safety is very important and the way for safety is to come by the jet boat,” the woman related.
Another miner pointed out that he is in the same position and cannot get back to the area. He explained that there are also villages that are suffering. “There are Amerindian people up there. They have babies and families that are suffering because they can’t come down and get food and medicine and all of those things,” he said. The man explained that MARAD and Crown Mining need to find an alternative method quickly before anything serious happens.
“You can’t just have something that big blocking the main passage like that. They need to do something. We know it’s big and it’s not easy to move but they have to do something because people are getting desperate. Even if they have to blow it up or something, they have to quickly,” the man pointed out.
Currently, MARAD and the mining company are still in the area assessing their best option in removing the dredge.
