After GGMC cease order…
GUYANA Geology & Mines Commissions (GGMC), following strong objections by Wonderland Tours, on Monday invoked Regulation 98 of the Mining Act 20/1989 and issued an immediate cease order, for  BK Quarries Inc., a subsidiary of BK Group of Companies, to stop works in the vicinity of Baracara Falls.
The edict, signed by Mr. Trevor Harry, GGMC Senior Mining Engineer at the Bartica Mining Station, compels BK Quarries  to maintain a radius of 300 metres around  the area known as Baracara Falls, located on the right bank of Mazaruni River and within the limits of a mining permit in the name of Linden Quarries.
The purpose is to ensure the maintenance of public peace and for the protection of the interest of the State or of private persons and Managing Director of BK Group, Mr. Brian Tiwarie said they will move, immediately, to begin restoration of the area.
He said, however, that the ultimatum will seriously affect the immediate future plans of his company, in terms of its procurement of boulders for the European Development Fund (EDF) sea defence project currently being executed countrywide.
Tiwarie said BK Quarries will now have to go back to the drawing board to find another suitable site from where to procure boulders with the required specifications and noted that a boom in the construction industry has seen a rise in demand for stone.
GGMC acted after Wonderland Tours complained that, as a result of expansion works being conducted by BK Quarries, the landscape surrounding Baracara Falls is being destroyed, as the trail that once led to destination has been bulldozed.
Wonderland had been conducting tourists on day tours to several sites for a fee in past years and expressed fear that the falls attraction would soon become extinct.
Tiwarie had offered to develop another site nearby the abandoned Teperu hydro scheme as an alternative.
Meanwhile, last weekend, BK Group received a second shipment of heavy duty equipment, most for use on the sea defence projects and the final consignment is due this weekend.
All, valued US$6.5M, were purchased at an auction in Orlando, Florida, recently and Tiwarie told the Guyana Chronicle that the deal is inclusive of an ambulance and a fire truck which he also saw the need to purchase because his company is expanding.
He said, though, that the two vehicles will also be available for use in any emergency outside his group.
Tiwarie said he is to seek assistance from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to educate the company’s drivers on the proper use of the acquired vehicles on the country’s roadways.