Scores of former Omai Gold Mines Limited (OGML) employees, accompanied by their spouses, gathered in Georgetown and Linden from September 29 to October 1st to reminisce on their years of working at Guyana’s first and South America’s largest open pit gold mine.
OGML ceased operating here some years ago.
In what was described as an historic reunion weekend, the former employees spent three days, meeting and greeting each other, many of whom travelled from various parts of the United States of America and Canada, to be part of the inaugural event.
Patron of the reunion, former Human Resources Manager, Major General Ret’d Norman Mc Lean extended a warm welcome to the attendees at the Gala Dinner at the Ramada Princess Hotel. According to a release from the reunion planning committee, he said: “I am pleased this evening to welcome all of you to this get together of old colleagues and friends as we reminisce on the great times we had at Omai…we made the cut and made our mark in history of Gold Mining in Guyana at Omai.”
Former General Manager, Rejean Gourde, who flew in from Canada for the event with his wife Dianne Gourde, was overjoyed at reuniting with so many former colleagues.
Gourde noted, “It has been thirty years since Mr. Louis Gignac, the CEO of Cambior (Parent Company of OGML), offered me a transfer to Guyana as General Manager of Omai Gold Mines. My first visit to Guyana was in September 1993 and I immediately decided to take up the challenge. I arrived in Guyana in April 1994 for a three-year term and finally, I left thirteen years later following the acquisition of Cambior by Iamgold”.
Special guests at the reunion included, Elaine Ellingham, President of Avalon Gold and Chief Executive Officer of Omai Gold Mines Corp., the new gold mining entity which recently replaced Omai Gold Mines Limited (OGML); and Dave Fennell, founder of the Exploration Company, Golden Star Resources, which discovered the Omai deposit and together with Cambior, developed the Omai Gold Mining Project in the 1990’s.
During the reunion weekend, the former Omai and Sodexho employees enjoyed a cocktail reception at Herdmanston Lodge, a Gala Dinner and Dance featuring the Yoruba Singers Band at the Poolside of the Ramada Princess Hotel; and a barbecue and Fun Day on the grounds of Watooka House in Linden.
