Following concerns raised by Region Nine Chairman Bryan Allicock about illegal mining operations causing water pollution, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has shut down three illegal mining operations in regions Eight and Nine.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources yesterday, a team comprising officers of the ministry, the GGMC and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) visited the Region Nine communities of Karasabai and Yurong Paru as well as the Region Eight community of Monkey Mountain during the past week and discovered the illegal operations, which were subsequently shut down.
The visit was said to have resulted from a directive issued by Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, following a letter written to him by the Region Nine Chairman, in early February, which raised the issue of illegal mining activities which were alleged to be the cause of water pollution.
The team, which was led by staff of the Compliance Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources, found that the turbidity levels in the Echilibar River, which separates the two regions, exceeded 30 ntu (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), the recommended limit in the mining regulations.
It was also determined by the officers on the ground that the turbidity levels were as a result of illegal mining operations.
“It was found that those operations were ongoing without the requisite permission from the GGMC. It was determined too that the persons working the operations were doing so after receiving verbal permission from a ranger employed by the claimholder – a violation of the GGMC’s regulations,” the statement said.
As a result, the GGMC issued Cease Work Orders to two operations in one location on the left bank of the Echilibar River and to one other operation farther inland.
The mining activities were all taking place in the drainage basin of the Echilibar River, which discharges into the Ireng River that borders Brazil.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources and the GGMC are in receipt of information which suggests that many claim-holders are granting small miners verbal permission to work their claims without seeking the prior approval of the GGMC. The Ministry and the GGMC will be taking strong action against such persons – many of whom are prominent miners,” the statement concluded.
