– as Mining Week 2011 begins
THE mining sector will be under the spotlight during the next seven days as Mining Week 2011 is celebrated, under the theme “Evolving Methods, Embracing Excellence, Enjoying Success.” Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, performing the duties of President, is encouraging miners to broaden their horizon, and “know where they will be mining not six months into the future, but three years into the future.”
Hinds was at the time speaking to a large gathering that converged on the Girl Guides Pavilion, on Brickdam, at the conclusion of “Mining Week Walk” early yesterday to signal the start of a list of activities to mark the occasion.
Speaking to the gathering, the Prime Minister highlighted the challenges miners often face and urged that they rapidly improve the sector, promote restoration of mined out areas, and adopt revolutionary ideas to better operations.
He was speaking in the presence of Commissioner (ag) of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Karen Livan; Manager of the Petroleum Division, Noel Dennison; and Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh, among others.
The walk commenced at the Avenue of the Republic and Church Street, with GGMC Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and Takara Resources Inc representatives participating.
Prime Minister Hinds described mining week as an event that promotes togetherness among miners, and with the rest of Guyana, and provides opportunities for reflection of the sector’s development over the years.
He apprised the gathering of the various features of mining that make it unique from other activities, foremost among which is the fact that miners are constantly progressive, and as such, are continuously brainstorming new properties.

“Generally, you are going from the more easily recognized resource and you have to find the more difficult ones to spot and process, so you are under pressure to raise your level of capability,” Prime Minister Hinds said.
He also explained that another inevitable truth about the sector is that mining reserves in a particular area will play out, and, recognizing this, miners have to think of alternatives that would augur well for the sector.
He went back in history, speaking about Mackenzie/Linden which rested on the backbone of mining, but has today diversified into agriculture and other activities to keep the economy of the town going.
“You have to contemplate, when mining is gone, when the mineral resources are gone, you need to use some of that first money, to set in train other things,” Prime Minister Hinds said.
Mining week runs until August 27, and features a
three-day mining and quarrying conference, a world energy outlook forum, also in Georgetown, national mining exhibitions in Georgetown and Bartica, and
Porkknocker Day at Bartica. (GINA)