CANADA-BASED mineral exploration company, Guyana Goldfields Inc. (GGI) advertised, during the week, vacancies for several positions which are necessary for the commencement of its Aurora Mine Project in the Cuyuni district of Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

The jobs range from health and safety officers, environmental officers, to carpenters, masons and heavy duty operators, which are available up to April 12.
GGI said the mining, to begin soon, consists of construction of a processing plant, an open pit mine, tailings and water retention/control structures and associated support infrastructure.
The programme is expected to take approximately two years to engineer, procure, construct and commission and will, primarily, be executed through engineering.
Procurement and construction management contracts (EPCMs) as well as for engineering will be awarded under the guidance of an experienced owner’s team, GGI said.
The undertaking is also closely tied to a significant logistics path of ocean transport of materials and equipment to a river port facility at its Buck Hall location and overland movement of approximately 175 kilometres (km) including one barge ferry at its Tapir crossing.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
GGI said the Aurora Mine Project is being implemented under international standards and best practices for health, safety, environment and community.
Strategic partnerships have been formed, too, with the help of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the overall support of objectives, the company said.
The Government of Guyana (GOG), in late 2011, signed a mineral agreement allowing GGI to develop and operate its Aurora Gold Project in what was described as the largest single private investment in Guyana eclipsing even Omai Gold Mines.
The signing was done at Office of the President with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who, as Minister responsible for Mining, was doing so on behalf of the Guyana Government and Mr. Patrick Sheridan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer for GGI.
Then President Bharrat Jagdeo, then Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar, Adviser Sir Shridath Ramphal, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Brigadier Joe Singh were among those witnessing the historic occurrence.
The terms included mining royalty of five percent on gold sales at a price of US$1,000 per ounce or less; mining royalty of eight percent on gold sales at a price of over US$1,000 per ounce; corporate income tax at the rate of 30 percent and no withholding tax on interest payments to lenders, and duty and value-added tax exemptions on imports of equipment and materials for all continuing operations at the Aurora Gold Project, including the construction and operation of a planned port facility, road and power improvements and the construction and operation of the mine.

(By Clifford Stanley)