After five years, the Ministry of Natural Resources resumed the distribution of mining lands via lottery and mostly women miners yesterday openly expressed their joy for the opportunity to be equally able to earn in the field as their male counterparts.
“It’s wonderful what they did here today, and the government should continue doing this cause it will help a lot of people, especially women,” Vaniesa Fletcherman told Stabroek News following her draw.
“To see so many women given claims today for me is a dream come true because I had applied for a long time and did not believe I would have my own land, although I would work even and straight with my brothers on other people dredge,” another participant added.
Facilitated by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Closed Area Committee (CAC), the Natural Resources Ministry said that yesterday’s lottery, which was held at the Girls Guide Pavilion at Brickdam, Georgetown, was part of its efforts to ensure the fair distribution of mining lands to waiting applicants.
When questioned by this newspaper about the significance of the lottery exercise, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman explained, “This is the first lottery that the government has held since coming into office in 2015 and it is in response to small honourable persons who are asking or demanding access to private mining lands.”
He added, “The last mining lottery was held in 2014 and so we sought to fulfill the need of the people. It took time to identify parcels of land that have mineral potential cause we don’t want to give lands that are in sandy or swampy areas. It’s a complaint that we have heard before, so we don’t want to disappoint the people.”
Trotman pointed out that persons from all across Guyana were present for yesterday’s exercise and those unable to make it but had submitted their application and other information that saw him and GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison pull their lots.
“After this, we will be going into individual mining districts so that the residents of those districts also get a chance to get lands and persons are guaranteed at least 600 acres of land. This mining lottery exercise is very significant. The natural resources of Guyana belong to the people and this is our way of sharing it, in a fair and responsible manner. This is the last lottery exercise that will be held in Georgetown for the year, but others will get a chance when we visit individual mining villages,” Trotman explained.
Two women from Georgetown, Ruann Pierre and Jennifer Williams, told this newspaper that they had applied for their respective mining areas approximately two years ago and expressed joy at having gotten it at last.
For Rawle Beck, a man from Awariwaunau village in Region Nine, it was a dream made reality and while he had the option of staying at home and have his lot pulled, he thought it too significant to not be present yesterday. He told Stabroek News that he applied for a piece of land about three years ago and recently received a letter to participate in the exercise.
“It’s a step in the right direction by the government. I didn’t get through the first time I applied but I got through this time. I’m not sure if I will find anything on the land allocated but it’s worth the effort,” Beck said.
The Ministry, in a statement, explained that eligible persons from within districts where land has been allocated for the lottery, will be given the opportunity to pull from blocks in their respective districts. “Those unallocated areas remaining within the districts after this initial exercise, will be made available to others. The lotteries will also facilitate persons who would have applied several years ago,” the ministry added.
A decision was taken to make the mining land lottery a three-month process to include publishing of the names of persons eligible to participate and public notices and the ministry said that representatives of the GGMC and CAC will be in the mining areas to undertake the process.
Over the next few months, persons from Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Bartica and Mahdia, among other areas, will see similar exercises brought to their hometowns.
The Ministry said that persons should ensure that when they receive their lots at the lottery draws, they complete the process by submitting requisite documentation to ensure they get their licenses.
