Seized mining equipment belonging to several small miners in the 14 Miles Issano District was returned on Tuesday November 14, following the intervention of David Daniels, Chairman of the Small Miner’s Association Guyana Inc., (SMAGI).
Daniels told Stabroek News yesterday that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission [GGMC] had confiscated the equipment following an operation targeting illegal mining in the district.
According to Daniels, he approached Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, to find an amicable solution to the situation. The SMAGI Chairman said he advocated for leniency on behalf of the miners and Bharrat responded positively by issuing a release order on the seized equipment. Daniels also shared a video statement with this newspaper showing him thanking Bharrat for taking this course of action and rendering his support to small miners.