CONSOLIDATED Northwest Resources Incorporated, a  London-based international geological exploration and mining company, recently signed an agreement with the community of Baramita to embark on massive exploration for gold deposits in approximately 50,000 acres in the North West District of Region 1 (Barima/Waini). The agreement sees the company undertaking exploration activities after consulting widely with the community of Baramita and its council; The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission; the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs; and the Environmental Protection Agency.
At a recent gathering at the Baramita Primary School, prior to inking the agreement, Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Northwest Resources Incorporated, Alexey Maslovsky, apologised to those gathered for not reading from a prepared script, as he preferred to speak “from the heart.”
He said it has been a year since it was conceived that his company might be interested in exploring for gold at Baramita, and it was after divine intervention that the decision was taken to hold direct dialogue with the people of the area; and for them to determine, with statutory regulatory oversight, whether Consolidated Northwest Resources Inc. would be an asset to the community as it embarked on exploration activities in the area.
“It was before any agreement was reached that the people of Baramita, who also sought divine intervention from the same source, agreed that the initiative was good for the community,” Maslovsky assured.  He said that because of his company’s presence at Baramita, “the children of the community will now have a better shot at life, a better shot at education, and a better shot at seeing the broader scope of life and breaking out of the cycle of poverty”.
The chief executive insisted that if exploration activities succeed, the people of Baramita succeed. He called on all stakeholders to be mutually patient, since exploration sometimes takes considerable periods of time, even though it was a significant step.
He said, “The real treasure is not the gold which is being sought after, the real treasure is the people,” and if his company is connected to them, “then the real positive advancements will be achieved”.
Guyana Geology and Mines Commissioner Karen Livan told the gathering that natural resources development is a very critical part of Guyana’s economic and social development. She said, “Mining within Amerindian-titled areas must be preceded by consultation and written agreement between the mining company and the village council.”
She assured that, “consultations in this venture were carried out in conformity with the customs and practices of the village of Baramita, the Mining Act and the Amerindian Act”.
The GGMC head not only commended the company for the time it took to ensure all procedures were followed, but for facilitating the legal guidance needed by the Baramita community.
Speaking to the central role of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs in the process, she said, “It is the commission’s expectation that the company’s presence in the community would bring significant benefits to the people of the community.”
As obtains in every area that it operates, Consolidated Northwest Resources Incorporated intends to give back to the community of Baramita through a number of developmental and social enhancement initiatives, among which are the construction of a potable water well; the provision of satellite Internet services, in keeping with the National Information and Communication Technology programme; an empowerment programme through sewing classes for women of the community; Medical assistance through the provision of medical supplies; enhancement of the primary school, and construction of three new schools; and construction of a community playground. The company will also employ a Medex to work in the community.
All of these projects are expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2014.
Some projects will be undertaken and/or completed by the end of this year.
Livan said the GGMC, on behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Government of Guyana, looks forward to the company’s presence in the area, and as such empowerment is indeed being experienced.
She expressed hope that, accompanying the economic and social developments enshrined in the agreement, there will be consideration for cultural development initiatives.
CNR Inc. assured that it remains committed to the preservation of the cultures of the residents of communities in which it operates.
Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai said her ministry and the Government of Guyana were pleased to be associated with what she described as a hallmark of an agreement.  Alluding to the agreement as one that can be used as a model, she said, “It sets the stage for similar agreements in the future.”
Minister Sukhai said, “The agreement ensures the Amerindian Act has been upheld, and that all stakeholders are more than comfortable with what has been agreed.
“The agreement highlights benefits brought to the community,” she said, but advised both the community and the company to upkeep their respective parts of the agreement. She said, “Guyana is at a transformative juncture, and the Baramita agreement must be seen as a model undertaking.”
She called on all to see the positives in ventures such as these. She also called for the cultural development of the community to be considered and preserved. She pointed to the preservation of language and cultural identity as such cultures.
Minister Sukhai referred to the process that led to the agreement as close to perfect, but, nevertheless, asked that the Environmental Protection Agency’s role be increased in future deliberations by all stakeholders.
Consolidated Northwest Resources Incorporated is a responsible company, which is continually developing detailed environmental management policies based on industry’s best practices.