Dear Editor,
The recent announcement of the syndicate initiative by the Ministry of Natural Resources leaves more questions than answers for the industry. Recently, Junior Minister of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes was in Bartica and Mahdia respectively selling her ministry’s syndicate initiative to small miners, which is commendable.
Small miners are getting much needed attention from the junior subject Minister but the question I ask is whose purpose and interest will this syndicate initiative serve? It is counter-productive and moreso suprising at this time for the junior minister and her ministry to be engaging small miners and going in the direction they are going presently, while the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is awaiting a meeting with the President to discuss the recent announcement of new tax measures to be implemented for miners. With many issues current and unresolved plaguing the mining industry, I continue to advocate a fast-tracking of the promised mining court.
Allegations of conflict of interest continue to be levelled against the Junior Minister of Natural Resources, for her alleged conflict of interest. With the syndicate initiative presently ongoing with Minister Broomes as its head, I am calling for the Minister to be reassigned to another portfolio because of the allegations.
The stage is being set for the division of the industry. Could we safely say it’s a case of divide and rule when the GGDMA awaits a meeting with the President, while the minister is meeting with small miners? Is Minister Broomes implying that there exist featherweight and heavyweight miners? Aren’t miners, miners?
But is the syndicate initiative really about helping small miners? Minister Broomes has already made a colossal mistake in Bartica in relation to this.
For the past three to four years, mining has remained the leading contributor to Guyana’s GDP, but what are the success stories of the mining workers? The painful fact is that mining workers like the minerals they produce are still being treated as disposable resources.
Over the past five to six years, the yearly report of the former Ministry of Labour, now Department of Labour in the Ministry of Social Protection, was dominated by labour-related issues in the mining industry. The mining industry is plagued with labour- related issues and the complaints labour officials received in no way near corresponds to the daily occurrences. With that I am calling on the government to establish a labour court.
Mining is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, I urge respect for mining workers’ rights, labour standards, and safe working conditions. The fact remains that the small miner, in most cases, is guilty of being in violation of Chapter 65:01 section 75-76 of the Mining Act which is clear on the issues of safety, health and the welfare of mining workers.
Yours faithfully.
Sherwyn Delano Downer
President
National Mine Workers Union of
Guyana