THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to helping the people of Mahdia rebuild their community and is in the process of engaging the Mahdia Mining Committee and regional officials on how the assistance to be provided by the association and the established Mahdia Relief Fund can be best utilised.  Plans are also underway to purchase a fire tender for the community.

All of the assistance provided via the fund will be done in conjunction with existing community, regional and national bodies. The miners association noted that they would like to ensure that beyond rebuilding, action to prevent the magnitude of such a catastrophe from reoccurring is taken. As a result one of the other priorities of the fund will be to seek to acquire, in collaboration with the relevant authorities, a fire tender specifically for the mining community of Mahdia.

The GGDMA on July 1 established the Mahdia Relief Fund with the specific purpose to assist miners and members of the mining community of Mahdia and to date the fund has raised over $10M and have received commitments from several other companies. The president and executive members of the association were scheduled to visit the area to access the damage done, first hand, but to date the inclement weather has prevented their departure. The team however reiterated their commitment to supporting and rebuilding the businesses and homes destroyed during the fire. They noted that any distribution of resources for rebuilding and the process of rebuilding must be done in compliance with the community and regional authorities. The team also noted that they are monitoring the situation in the community in relation to the supply and price of commodities and calls on suppliers to examine ways to subsidise the impact on the community.

The fund has been set up at the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association and persons who wish to contribute can contact the GGDMA at lot 29 North Road Bourda or on Telephone Numbers 225-2217 or fax 225-1828.

The Mining community of Mahdia was devastated by fire on June 30 which ravaged several businesses and the homes of several residents. As many as 150 persons have been left homeless and the damage in property is still being accessed. Mahdia is the central hub for the mining activities in Region Eight and many of the businesses affected provide vital support for miners.