To be commissioned shortly…
–    according to newly elected President of GSMDA
THE Guyana Scrap Metal Dealers Association (GSMDA),  at its Annual General Meeting on Monday last, elected a new Executive Committee headed by Alfred Branche , to serve until the Association’s next AGM.
Those on the  newly elected Executive Committee are:
Office Incumbent
** President –     Alfred Branche
** Vice President –    Amar Samaroo
** Secretary –    Michael Benjamin
** Treasurer –    Shalini Diaz
Committee Members:
** Joseph Baskarran
** Percy Cole
** Fernando Melendez
** Raghu Raman

GSMDA is the trade association of scrap metal dealers in Guyana.

“We remain a strong advocate for best practices among our members. The association has been very instrumental in having its members adhere and comply to a ‘Rules and Standards of Conduct Code’ whereby meticulous transaction records are kept, and suspicious transactions are reported to the Government of Guyana Task Force on Scrap Metals,”  GSMDA President Branche said in a statement.
He said the  association is in the process of commissioning a comprehensive study of the scrap metal industry in Guyana.
According to Branche, this study will detail the state of the industry and its contribution to the Guyana economy, industry management practices, and will propose a legislative framework to assist the Government of Guyana agencies in managing the industry.
Additionally,  Branche said this study will look at export markets and marketing efforts of association members.
Prime Minister Sam Hinds, about a week ago, suspended the sale of scrap iron, and as such the practice is now illegal.
Prime Minister Hinds, in a statement issued through the Government Information Agency on April 29,  said he was forced to take this approach “to curb a problem that continues unabated” with the upsurge in vandalism of “various articles, private and state property and commercial and building sites, containing metal.”
GINA noted that breaches of security have been found at locations across the coastland, including the removal of installations from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) sites and the Lama Conservancy, the pumping facilities of the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the rails around graves in church yards and accessible burial grounds.
“Therefore, as a result of the disregard shown by scrap metal dealers towards previous requests made by the Prime Minister and other relevant authorities and as a precautionary measure in the best interest of the country, all licensing and dealings in scrap metal of all sorts, ferrous and non-ferrous, are suspended until further notice,” the GINA release said.
But Branche, in a statement, said the scrap metal industry in Guyana remains viable and vibrant, and continues to make positive contributions to the economy of Guyana.

According to him, the industry employs approximately 500 fulltime or equivalent employees, and peripheral business such as fuel, transportation, machinist and welders account for another 500 employees.

Branche said the association members are also in full compliance of all the statutes and laws governing their industry. “GSMDA is committed to the Government of Guyana goals for economic development and endeavors to do its part in nation building,” he said.