Dear Editor,

The Government of Guyana should be commended for its attempt in streamlining the mining sector in an effort to bring greater benefits to its stakeholders and the country as a whole. In doing so, we ought to ensure that local players, especially small miners, contractors and workers get their fair share, be treated with dignity and respect. As a country, we must be wary of those among us who are focused only on harvesting our natural resources without giving us our due.
It is important for us to understand that the people of Guyana must always be able to benefit from any investment and move away from a culture of disrespect for our people, like we have witnessed with Bai Shin Lin and others.
The mining sector with its potential for success must be able increase efficiency and productivity for the livelihoods of our people, their growth and development. The mining sector ought to be able to generate profitable, sustainable and optimistic future for us all.
We can all celebrate people’s achievements with proper and prudent management of this sector. The Aurora Gold Mines is an excellent example of how we can evolve in a way to ensure our citizens benefit from these investments. Aurora Mining has been able to share its wealth with local businesses, contractors and individuals which should be commended. This company must be able to share its blue print for winnable partnerships in investments.  They have refined the investment in people to ensure that every step provides the insight for success.
Aurora Gold Mines had a positive start-up last year and has been impacting positively on the country’s extractive sector, declaring over 30,000 ounces in just three months of its operations. This company is planning to stay around for at least 17 years when resources are expected to be exhausted which is testimony to its genuine desire to make an impact on our local development.
Aurora Gold Mines has contracted several prominent, local companies, providing services like hauling and stripping overburden, mine materials, road construction and supplying fuel and spare parts. Over 150 staffers are employed by these contracted companies. Quite a few of these companies have invested heavily in equipment and workers in anticipation of the work that had opened up at mine site.
No doubt companies like Aurora Gold Mines should be encouraged to continue this positive partnership with local contractors and workers. I am sure the government of Guyana will continue to monitor the developments of this sector to ensure there is equality and a level playing-field with respect to the benefits of this sector to Guyanese.

Patriot for the development of Guyana,
Terry Alstrom