THE Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) issued a statement yesterday welcoming the announcement of the cessation of processing applications for river mining by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC). The GHRA said it “commends both agencies for their courage in facing the hostilities such a decision would predictably generate from factions within the industry”.
It said the response to this decision reveals the scale of the odds facing even the most basic initiatives to enhance environmental protection in an industry which, according to press reports, loses a minimum of US$240 million per annum in illegal gold exports.
“Far from the irresponsible decision that some in the sector are portraying, suspension of new applications is, in fact, the mildest step to bringing the issues generated by the gold rush currently occurring in the interior under sensible control,” the GHRA stated.
It noted that no existing operators have been suspended and the practices which prompted the ban will presumably continue to destroy rivers and associated wildlife until the GGMC develops the capacity to effectively police the industry.
In this respect, GHRA said the position of the industry as articulated in the media is “mystifying”. On the one hand they denounce the relatively mild decision to suspend new applications, while extensively criticizing GGMC lack of effective capacity to monitor and regulate the industry.
Environmental advocates looking for an outright ban on river mining will be disappointed that the authorities did not move more aggressively against the irrevocable destruction of fresh water resources on which interior communities depend for the foreseeable future, the GHRA posited. To this end, the Guyana Human Rights Association reiterated its call for “a complete ban on river mining”, and for long term policies on fresh water resources to be developed and effectively implemented.

NO HALT TO RIVER MINING
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) agreed on Tuesday to establish a joint working group to look at the contentious issue of river mining.
It was agreed to establish the joint committee during a meeting which included Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Hon. Robert M. Persaud; Commissioner of the GGMC, Ms. Karen Livan; Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GGMC, Major General (rtd) Joseph Singh, among other relevant stakeholders, all of whom reviewed the ongoing joint intervention as well as the process of regulating the mining sector towards greater investments and monitoring for a sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices.
Among the issues discussed at the meeting on Tuesday were environmental concerns relating to river mining, waste management at camp sites, security in mining districts, availability of mining lands and miners being displaced by extending village boundaries, etc.
In addition, the meeting agreed on the composition of a technical joint working group that included the GGDMA, EPA and the GGMC to carry out a review in one month of environmental issues and concerns pertaining to river and tributary mining.
Further, there was also agreement on the issue of river mining where the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the GGMC made it “absolutely clear that there has been no decision to stop river and tributary mining, but rather a temporary hold on accepting new river and tributary claims”, until all stakeholders would have met and review acceptable guidelines.
Minister Persaud also reminded all stakeholders of the government’s full support for mining and engaging in a collaborative way and urge, that there be an open mind to the required internationally acceptable mining practices as contained in the Mining Act and Regulations.
The ministry and GGMC also met, earlier on Tuesday, with the Guyana Women Miners Organization as part of a quarterly engagement to engage all stakeholders towards creating a mining sector of international standards.
On Sunday last, the GGDMA lashed out at the natural resources ministry for its decision to halt river mining, without consulting the association.
However, officials had confirmed that the GGDMA is represented on the GGMC board and was aware of the decision and was also in receipt of a copy of the notice before it was published.
According to an INEWS online report, the decision to temporary suspend the issuance of river claims came after several Amerindian communities complained that the activities are polluting their main and only sources of potable water.