-slams GGDMA
Slamming the miners association, the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) yesterday called again on the government to suspend mining in the Marudi area in light of the rising security threats.
On Monday, the SRDC called for a hiatus in mining operations following last Saturday’s hair-raising robbery and kidnapping which is suspected to have been carried out by a gang from Brazil. The incident saw the abduction of several individuals, including two Wapichan men. The abducted persons were later released after the police began a chase of the robbers.
In response to this statement, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) on Thursday, without naming the SRDC, said that recent calls by a “partisan group” for the “shutting down of mining activities at Marudi Mountain” is preposterous and nonsensical.
“Such (a) decision would hurt many more Guyanese than it would help, most of whom are Amerindians presently earning a living from mining in that area. In Guyana, mining provides a livelihood for more than 50,000 persons. It is still largely locally owned and operated, and remains one of the single largest tools for many to find an independent livelihood”, the association said.
Yesterday, the SRDC fired back in a statement and denounced the GGDMA for what it said was the “callous dismissal” of its concerns regarding the safety and well-being of Wapichan communities.
“In response to the growing threats posed by illegal mining activities at Marudi Mountain, the SRDC again calls upon the Government of Guyana to immediately suspend all mining operations in the area until an appropriate, community-driven mining plan is developed and agreed upon by the affected communities.
“The right to life and security is a fundamental human right and cannot be sacrificed in pursuit of an annual gold production target. As Indigenous peoples, our rights to our lands, territories, and resources, as well as our right to participate in decisions affecting us, are being directly threatened by the unchecked mining activities currently taking place in our sacred Marudi Mountain. These activities not only violate our constitutional rights but also jeopardize our very survival as an Indigenous people”, the SRDC statement said yesterday.
It also said that last Saturday’s robbery and kidnapping was not an isolated event.
“We wish to make it clear that last weekend’s armed robbery and abductions were not an isolated incident. Over the past few weeks, there have been additional incidents of robbery, attempted robbery, and an attempted trespass at a local guest house. These events are a direct result of illegal and unregulated mining in the region, and the SRDC holds the Government and the GGDMA responsible for allowing such threats to persist unchecked.
Deeply troubling
“It is deeply troubling that the GGDMA would dismiss these incidents as `inherent dangers of working in the mining sector.’ The vast majority of our people do not work in the mining industry. Yet, we are being forced to bear the brunt of its consequences, including assault, robbery, environmental destruction, pollution, trafficking, disease, and now direct threats to our lives. This cannot be allowed to continue”, the SRDC declared.
The SRDC said that it recognized that many Guyanese rely on mining for their livelihoods, and some of its people have traditionally mined at Marudi in the Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo region or are currently engaged in small-scale mining.
“We are not calling for these livelihoods to disappear, rather, we are calling for a suspension of mining at Marudi until a comprehensive, regulated plan is put in place—one that ensures mining is conducted safely, responsibly, and with full community involvement. Livelihoods can be pursued in alternate locations and in alternate fields – human lives cannot be replaced”, it warned.
It is also important to note, the SRDC said, that the mining activities at Marudi Mountain cannot truly be considered locally owned and operated.
“The reason Brazilian gangs are emboldened to commit crimes in our territory is precisely because Guyanese miners have invited them in to operate at Marudi. As far as we are aware, this would normally be considered an illegal arrangement under Guyanese laws; we have not heard that there is any government approval for this arrangement”, the statement said.
The SRDC said it stands firm in its position that the safety of the South Rupununi communities must take precedence over the economic interests of the mining sector.
“We call on the Government to prioritize the protection of its citizens—especially those in vulnerable communities like ours—over the pursuit of profit. We demand that the Government fulfill its constitutional and international human rights obligations by ensuring that our communities have a say in all decisions that affect us.
“We also demand a formal apology from GGDMA for its dismissive and inhumane response to our legitimate concerns. The disregard for the safety and rights of Indigenous communities, as displayed by the GGDMA, is unacceptable and must be condemned”, the SRDC statement said.
For far too long, it said that communities in the region have been exposed to the devastating consequences of unchecked mining—environmental destruction, the proliferation of criminal activity, and escalating violence.
“It is time for both the GGDMA and the Government of Guyana to recognize the severe and ongoing harm caused by unregulated mining. Action must be taken immediately to ensure that the mining industry is properly regulated, that the safety of our people is ensured, and that mining no longer poses a threat to the survival of our communities”, the statement argued.
The SRDC said it will continue to defend the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the South Rupununi and call for accountability.
“We will not back down in the face of threats, and we will continue to fight for a future where the lives of our people are valued above all else”, the statement asserted.
