Hinterland village leaders last Wednesday told Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman that they were being affected by a number of issues stemming from mining, including threats and damage to transport infrastructure, while others questioned why residents were being subjected to huge fines for the small amount of lumbering or logging they do on their lands.
During the now-concluded 13th National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, which was being hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Edward McGarrell, Toshao of Chenapau, told the minister that the farm, home and land of an elderly resident, Mamai Lucille Williams, was “destroyed by mining and dredging.” “This has been happening for some time as illegal mining has always been a problem in this area and this is just one example,” he said before reminding the minister that he knew of the incident involving Williams. Further, McGarrell said the miners told Williams that they would build her a new home. “But if you go there now, all you will see is sticks,” McGarrell added.
In response, the minister said that he was aware of the problem but thought that the issue was resolved. He then assured the Toshao that he would travel to the community later this month to ensure that the issue is resolved and Williams is compensated for her loss.
Meanwhile, Toshao Limbert Henry of Kariako village, Region One, said the village councillors were threatened on several occasions by security personnel of a company that is currently operating on titled land. Further, he said, the alleged acts are being committed in the presence of workers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and they refuse to intervene. Henry said that videos of such incidents are currently circulating in the area.
Toshao Mario Hastings, of Kako and who represented several indigenous communities from Region Seven, said that one issue all the villages have in common is the contamination of rivers due to illegal mining. “Three of our main rivers are polluted by mining because concessions are being given to miners on our titled land,” he said before adding that residents of those areas are highly dependent on the rivers for drinking water, bathing and washing.
Kid James, of the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC), said that the Toshao of Aishalton had been expressing concerns about the damage mining trucks and excavators have been causing to transport infrastructure in the South Rupununi. This, he said, was particularly prevalent during the rainy season. “We recommend that the policies of mining that are being issued should be reviewed,” he added, before saying that the SRDC has approached the GGMC in hopes that it will assist in rectifying the situation.
Among the other issues raised was the decades old row over a businessman mining at Chinese landing, which Toshao of Kwebanna and Vice Chairman of the NTC Paul Pierre requested be resolved as he said it is long overdue.
As it relates to forestry and lumbering, representatives of regions Two, Five, Six and Seven questioned why they were being asked to pay very high fines for logging and lumbering. “Very high fines are being issued to our local residents for logging and it should not be so because the lumber that is being extracted are not being used for commercial purposes,” the Toshao of Bethany Harold Marslowe elaborated.
Trotman, in response, told the leaders that he would do his best to investigate and address the issues mentioned.
