– Secretary
THE Special Land Use Committee (SLUC) set up to look at issues affecting the gold and diamond mining industry is committed to reaching consensus on all, the Secretary, Mrs. Rosemary Benjamin-Noble said Tuesday.
She said their work will be continuing over the next few weeks to ensure that the objective is achieved within the framework of establishing harmonisation and optimal use of the mineral and forest resources of Guyana. Headed by Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn, the body was established by President Bharrat Jagdeo, earlier this year,  to hear the concerns of gold and diamond miners, who claimed the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) would affect their operations and livelihoods.
Benjamin-Noble said they resumed meetings early last month and intend to keep on meeting until all the identified matters of concern to miners and other forest users are fully considered and resolved.
During last month, the SLUC was expanded to include four miners who represent persons from Bartica, Mahdia and North West District, she confirmed.
Benjamin-Noble said the quartet was elected by miners in their respective communities whose representation was the direct result of an assurance, given by President Jagdeo, that the small miners will be have a voice on the SLUC.
The Committee now comprises Minister Benn as Chairman; Mr. Odinga Lumumba, Presidential Adviser; Mr. William Woolford, Acting Commissioner of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC);  Mr. James Singh , Commissioner, Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC); Mr. Edward Shields, Executive Director of Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA);  Mr. Timothy Junor, Small Miners’ Representative (Mahdia); Mr. Ramesh Deonarine, Small Miners Representative (North West District), with Mr. C. St. Romain as alternate and Mrs. Simona Broomes and Mr. Frederick  Mc Wilfred, Small Miners’ Representatives (Bartica), with  Mr. Colin Hopkinson as alternate .
Benjamin-Noble disclosed that a representative of Linden miners is to be appointed to the SLUC but is yet to be named.
The Committee meets once a week and on the agenda are the worries raised by the miners during their encounter with President Jagdeo last February 11, such as land reclamation and  support for exploration and infrastructure.
The SLUC participated in GGMC sponsored meetings with miners at Bartica and Port Kaituma on March 19 and 26 last, with similar topics being discussed and those were followed by a meeting between the SLUC and miners at Mahdia on April 9, for the same purpose.
Benjamin-Noble said miners were also reminded of the requirements of the mining regulations with respect to notices and actions to which they must adhere.