The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has welcomed the action taken by the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, to conduct a rapid assessment of the damage caused by gold-mining to major river systems in the interior.
On April 18, the Ministry of Natural Resources said that officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had been ordered to the Puruni and Mazaruni areas in Region Seven to investigate reports of severe mining pollution of rivers there.
The move by the Ministry followed an April 13th statement by the GHRA charging that there was serious mining pollution in the rivers of the Upper Mazaruni.
In a statement yesterday, GHRA said that the confirmation of the alarm sounded by it has come from a variety of knowledgeable sources, who have pointed out that the tributaries to major rivers, not so visible from the air, are in worse shape than the rivers themselves.
The human rights body said that “no doubt the dubious concept of a ‘basic right to mining’ will be revived. While never generating serious credibility this ‘right’ is resoundingly trumped by the more immediate claims of indigenous communities, of the larger society and global climate change interests”.
It argued yesterday that money cannot be the only factor determining where gold-mining takes place.
“Moreover, although small miners are allegedly those responsible for environmental damage, this is to misunderstand the dynamics of an industry which operates to the benefit of a few large owners who out-source State lands with no regard to the environmental costs.
“The mining sector in particular needs to demonstrate much greater purposefulness with respect to Guyana’s natural assets. For example, the recent announcement of new licenses granted in the Marudi, Mahdia and Region 1 Mining districts provided an opportunity to reinforce obligations to environmental restoration, non-use of mercury and other standards which should be non-negotiable”, the GHRA stated.
It said that placing the mining industry on a modern, equitable and efficient basis and pursing these goals within the national interest is a task for which resources need to be mobilized.
“The responsibility of the State is to create equitable relations between all citizens, not to pander or privilege destructive elements. The GHRA is also confident that the bulk of the mining industry will be in agreement with such a goal.
“To this end, the GHRA calls for an inclusive national initiative to develop a more fundamental response to protection of fresh water resources and reiterates its earlier call for an effective ban on all river-related mining”, the human rights body said.
