Eleven win special permits for white sand mining
ELEVEN persons won allotments of land for white sand mining at a
lottery conducted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) last week.
The winners received maps showing the plots at Lukabuna, along the
Soesdyke/Linden Highway, which they can access for their operations.
It followed applications for special mining permits and permission
from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The lottery was the first ever hosted by the GGMC and was the result of a growing demand for white sand in local road building and other construction activities, as well as in the Caribbean islands for repairs to sections of damaged beaches.
The gamble was supervised by Manager of the Geological Services Division and Chairman of the Closed Area Committee (CAC) of GGMC, Mr. Kampta Persaud.
The CAC reviews land closed for mining and decides on the reopening and allocation to applicants by fair and transparent means such as lotteries and auctions.
Persaud was assisted by Ms. Adele Butts, Resource Person to the
CAC and Ms. Patricia Campbell of the Land Management Department.
A miners’ representative, Mr. Dabria Marcus, Committee Member of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) served as observer
at the lottery to ensure that the process was transparent and fair.
Persaud said the allocations last week in no way meant that the application system for white sand mining is closed.
“Despite this lottery, people who have seen areas where they would like to mine can still come in to us and apply in the usual way,” he said.
The white sand mining permits at Lukabuna are for five years.
The successful lottery winners will have to post an environmental bond of $100,000 prior to the commencement of mining.
The money will be kept by the GGMC and released at the end of the five years, once the miners have carried out the environmental work necessary to restore the mining area on completion.
If a miner fails to honour the bond, the cash will be utilised to rehabilitate and restore the mined out area.
The successful applicants have been given up to November 10 to complete the required processes for the special mining permits, failing which their allocation will be rescinded.