AMERINDIAN leaders have refuted reports of drugs, alcohol abuse and prostitution in their communities.
Toshao of Isseneru, Region Seven, Danness Larson in an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), confirmed that mining is done in his community but in a sustainable manner and it is guided by strict regulations implemented by the Village Council.
He stated that before miners from the coastland and other areas are allowed to mine in the community, they are required to sign an agreement with the Village Council where they agree to adhere to regulations with regards to the payment of royalty and other conditions which prohibit the use or sale of illegal drugs and alcohol.
“We have in our terms and conditions no illegal firearms, no illegal drugs like cocaine and marijuana and no alcohol in the camps. So these are the terms and conditions we have,” Larson said.
He added that the rumours will be circulated but the only way to be sure about what is happening in the village is by being “on the spot to see what is happening.”
Larson stated that there are officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in the village mines on a regular basis to monitor the mining activities.
He added that initially the Council allowed miners from outside of the village but as time progressed, that number decreased significantly and at present about three quarters of the mining population are villagers who own dredges.
Mining has brought tremendous benefits to the village, Larson said, since it was able to procure an excavator with the revenue from mining.
“So that is how we have benefited from mining. It brings income and, apart from that, the villagers are benefiting too from the excavator, they are the ones working it,” he said.
Larson said that the revenue from mining also supplements the Presidential Grant which each village receives on a yearly basis to fund community projects.
Both Toshaos of Micobie, Region Eight and Parabara, Region Nine, Julie Johnson and Enkufa Mawsha also denounced reports of nefarious activities occurring in their respective villages.
Johnson said that Micobie has always been a mining area and although initially there were many miners from outside of the village, today there are only four along with villagers who do mining on a small scale.
These miners, she said, contribute to the village by paying royalty in addition to assisting with road repairs and the school feeding programme.
She added that some of the royalty from mining would also be used to supplement their Presidential Grant and to assist villagers in times of emergency.
Toshao Enkufa Mawsha explained that the rumours commenced when certain visitors to the area reported that there was a ‘gold shout’ in Parabara after which many people from outside of the village thronged the area.
He further stated that mining does not take place in Parabara itself but, in the adjoining area which is accessed through Parabara.
“Some reports said people are doing this thing (illegal activities) at Parabara, this is not true,” Mawsha said.
He added that the Village Council ensures that miners in the area adhere to the village rules and if there are illegal activities conducted these are done in the backdam and not in the village.
He said that the residents continue to engage in traditional farming in addition to mining.