Stakeholders told…
THE sixth and final meeting of the Guyana Environmental Management and Capacity Development Programme (GENCAPD) Steering Committee was convened, on Wednesday, in the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Main Street, Georgetown headquarters conference room.
The objective was to provide an overview of the sustainability and accomplishments of phase two of the GENCAPD project which began in 2007, with the focus on activities such as the rehabilitation of sites after mining, the reduction of turbidity and improving conditions at miners’ camps.
GENCAPD II is required to consolidate and sustain achievements of phase one and undertake necessary capacity development outside its scope and phase two will provide support to the rural poor and hinterland population, among whom is the highest incidence of poverty and build on the accomplishments of the previous phase.
Phase one was oriented toward capacity building for environmental management in the mining sector but phase two targets community, with the goal of promoting private sector-led economic growth that provides sustainable livelihoods and reduces poverty.
The purpose of the latter is to improve the health, skills and economic opportunities of private sector miners and men, women and families in selected communities living near mining operations in the hinterland.
Addressing the gathering of representatives from the various collaborating entities, including CIDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Head of GENCAPD, Mr. Richard Couture alluded to what has been achieved.
He said that the concluded part resulted in tremendous impacts on the mining sector, which include health and economic improvements.
Couture said that several initiatives were embarked upon, among them the designing of a mining gig, which would improve the recovery of fine gold, by Mr.Peter Hudson.
GENERATING INTEREST
He said, about the mechanism, that it will be able to recover up to 70 per cent and is already generating interest while headed to GGMC for inspection.
In addition, Couture said there has been an improvement in water quality in the mining areas where turbidity has dropped from more than 1,000 to less than 30 nephelometric turbidity units (NTUs), the success of which would depend upon the topography of the land.
He also revealed that the establishment of nurseries at Isseneru in the Mazaruni, to grow acacia seedlings for reclamation, has been fully supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and, as such, several mined out locations have been re-vegetated.
Couture said such areas are protected against future deforestation and the capacity good, which would also encourage community sub-contracting of the reclamation work.
He said appropriate gold mining practices were addressed, as well, together with the introduction of cyanide leeching technology used in Brazil.
Couture explained that alternative economic practices, particularly ornamental fish export, was introduced into the communities and has resulted in a big increase in revenue for the country as a whole.
Ms. Karen Livan, of GGMC, commended the efforts of all of the parties involved in the project that complements efforts in the mining sector.
“It is good to see that miners could collaborate and cooperate to help protect the environment,” she remarked.
Livan lauded several aspects of the scheme, including implementation of the Cyanidation Laboratory that is part of the GGMC’s work programme.
“GGMC and its Board of Directors remain committed by allocating $64 million, in the first instance, for equipment needed for the lab,” she disclosed.
Livan expressed gratitude also to CIDA, for funding the undertaking and the Canadian Government for its support.
“This project has made a difference and will continue to make a difference,” she acknowledged.