GGMC reports…
THE Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) says that it has made significant progress in reducing the levels of muddiness of the Cuyuni River.

Commissioner William Woolford said that fortnightly sampling of the water quality done by the GGMC in recent months had indicated a decrease in turbidity of the water on the Guyana leg of the river.

He added that efforts to ensure that gold and diamond miners desist from dumping waste into its tributaries such as the Arau and the Wenamu rivers are ongoing.

Mr Woolford made the disclosure about the current state of the river which is supposed to be a copious source of fresh water, during a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle .

He disclosed that the 350 mile long Cuyuni which drains into the Essequibo River near Bartica, has its origins in eastern Venezuela.

A geographical sources state that the Cuyuni is a river in northern Guyana and eastern Venezuela.

It rises in the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela; descends northward to El Dorado Venezuela, where it turns eastward and meanders through the tropical rain forests of Guyana, forming the international boundary between Guyana and Venezuela, for approximately 100 km (60 miles).

Then it turns southeastward, flowing to its confluence with the Mazaruni river.

Though it rises in Venezuela, the main course of the river is covered in Guyana. Thus much of its meandering course is noticed in the lush tropical rainforests of Guyana.

The entire Cuyuni river is fertile with alluvial gold and the river basin is rich in metallogenic products.

Last week, Woolford remarked that part of the challenge in reducing turbidity in the Cuyuni is that when the river arrives in Guyana from Venezuela, it is already dirty.

He added that the GGMC programme of compliance monitoring has achieved some success but there are hot spots at Aranka and at Groethe Creek.

“The Cuyuni basin has been our major area of difficulty and we are just about controlling that now,” he added.

Part of the GGMC effort in striving to keep sources of fresh water clean, involves compilation of maps which show the levels of turbidity of rivers near to mining areas.

On this map, which shows where dredges are located , are displays of the neighboring rivers using color codes showing which river is muddy and which is not.

This information , Woolford said, drives the field efforts to ensure that these sources of fresh water are not polluted or that the pollution is alleviated and removed.

Mr Woolford said that GGMC staffers go physically in the field and collect water samples from some 48 points in the various mining district to monitor turbidity levels.

They take remedial action or punitive action which includes cease order commands to miners who contribute to the sullying of these waterways.

The main aim is to encourage partnership by these miners in caring for the environment so that they can make money and improve the quality of their lives without compromising the quality of life of neighboring communities or future generations.