The Ministry of Natural Resources, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), fulfilled a promise to residents of Region Eight and held a mining lottery on Wednesday morning.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman as saying that residents had been “very boisterous” about the need for land. “…We talking about people who are accused of raiding other people’s lands and who were crying out literally for me to hear them that they needed some lands, so I went back to town and pressed GGMC to find some lands. Of course, lands are not easily and readily available,” Trotman related.
However, he said after some effort 100 mining blocks were located.
“Just looking at the faces of the residents today they were quite happy and quite elated that they have their own. We wish that we could give as many as need them, we just can’t but I am happy at least we were able to brighten up the lives of 100 residents of Mahdia,” he stated.
The lotteries, Trotman further said, will allow small miners who have applied for mining lands to now have a chance to access available mining properties.
He encouraged those who acquired land to utilise it in a safe, sustainable and responsible manner.
The mining lottery was held at the Mahdia Townhall. Previous mining lotteries were held in Georgetown, Port Kaituma and Bartica.
