Gov’t officials to Bartica miners, residents…
AGRICULTURE Minister Mr. Robert Persaud, in his capacity as Acting Prime Minister, yesterday engaged Bartica residents and miners and reassured them that it was never the government’s intention to scupper the industry.

Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud speaking with residents and miners of Bartica on mining. Also at the head table are Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn; Adviser to the President on Community Development, Mr. Odinga Lumumba; Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Mr. William Woolford; and Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Mr. James Singh.

It has always been made clear that mining will continue. There has never been any discussion whether we should cease or reduce mining activities,” he said.

The meeting, which has been declared fruitful and cordial, allowed miners of Bartica to raise their concerns with Minister Persaud, Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn; Adviser to the President on Community Development, Mr. Odinga Lumumba; Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Mr. William Woolford; and Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Mr. James Singh.

Speaking to a full house at the St John the Baptist Primary School, Minister Persaud — who, as Acting Prime Minister, now has portfolio responsibility for mining — apprised his audience that the land-use committee set up by President Bharrat Jagdeo is one which will ensure that operations in the mining sector are sustainable and efficient.

He was, however, at pains to explain that no decision has yet been made about many of the proposals dealing with mining issues such as the six-month notice period, and dispelled rumours that the notice will prohibit small miners from operating.

Representative of the Committee of Concerned Barticians, Mr. Frederick Mc Wilfred raising his concerns during the meeting on mining. (Photo saved in Graphics as: ‘Mc Wilfred speaks’)

The proposals are so being crafted that in fact… for a certain defined period, they (small miners) might be exempted, if that is agreed upon, from the six months notification,” Minister Persaud said.

All of the residents who raised concerns were given a fair chance to express themselves. Simone Bruce, a miner, said her concerns about the difficulties miners face were addressed to the Government on several occasions.

One of those concerns, she said, was the state of the Cassandra Bridge which leads to Mahdia, and the fact that miners wanting to access the community at reference now have to divert to a more costly option. Another of her concerns has to do with continuous mining, which Minister Benn assured her will not be affected, once the right procedures are followed.

If you have a medium-scale mining permit and you identify where you want to mine, you can go and start mining and continue mining; there is nothing that will stop you from mining, he said, adding: “What is required and what is already inherent in the laws is that you have to give notification so that under all the various stakeholders using our forest resources, we are able to ensure that the practices are sustainable.”

Noting that he is familiar with the issues surrounding the ‘Cassandra Crossing’ and that considerations for repairs to the location are being made for this year, Minister Benn said that a significant amount of funds have been identified for roads in several of the country’s mining districts, and that for this year, money is being spent for roads in Bartica going all the way to Paruni landing and beyond. Similar works, he said, are earmarked for Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice), from Linden to Kwakwani.

The most boisterous group at the meeting was the Committee of Concerned Barticians who lamented the absence of opposition support for their plight. Frederick Mc Wilfred, a member of the group, made it clear that the protest plan for tomorrow is in no way meant to be confrontational, and that opposition party members will not be welcome since “not a single opposition voice has been raised since the issue started.”

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn speaking with Bartica residents and miners on mining.

On that score, Minister Persaud cautioned that while the government has no intention of dissuading the residents from taking action that will reflect a true expression of their concerns
, it should be done in a lawful manner, and that even though the community did not invite the governmental team, the need to respond to the concerns of the community was an absolute necessity.

“Whatever policies and whatever programmes and projects we undertake, we try to do this through a process of discussion with all stakeholders. It is the hallmark and an enduring feature of the PPP/C administration,” he said.

To Mc Wilfred’s query about the future of mining in the area, given widespread fears that the government plans shutting it down, Minister Benn again reassured him that no such thing will occur. To which Mc Wilfred countered that the only proposal miners find workable is the one which calls for a setting aside of a portion of forests specifically for mining.

To set his audience’s collective heart at ease, Minister Persaud highlighted the outstanding contributions of the mining sector in 2009, and noted that despite the many global challenges, mining was able to hold its own and stand by its reputation as one of the more resilient sectors, unlike some other sectors like rice, sugar, bauxite and tourism.

A section of the gathering at the meeting in Bartica with Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud on mining

Why would anyone attempt to hurt that? Why would any sensible government or administration want to proceed in a direction to affect a sector that is one of the more resilient sectors?” Minister Persaud said.

Government’s support to mining, he said, is reflected, among other ways in the form of duty free concessions which has amounted to about $10B. Without such a forum, he said, a vacuum will be created where misinformation will lead to certain negative reactions that affect the wellbeing of persons in the community.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Holbert Knights said the Bartica community is appreciative of the government’s acknowledgement of their concerns about mining and its importance to all the residents.

He alluded to a meeting on January 27, which housewives attended, and expressed their concerns noting that it signals the impact of the mining on all groups in the community. (GINA)