AS Linden residents continue to protest, the mining sector in Guyana continues to be negatively impacted.
According to Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, gold and bauxite mining activities are being severely affected, as are workers involved in those activities, their families, and support services for those sectors.
From the inception of the protests, Linden has largely been cut off from the rest of the country, as residents have been blocking access points into the town. Banks, stores and the market have been closed, and the transport of food, fuel and other supplies to communities like Lethem has been severely hampered.
The GGDMA had advised its membership that, because vehicles requiring transit through Linden en route to mining districts 7,8,9 and 10 have been denied access,  alternative routes would have to be found. Miners have since begun using the Bartica via Parika route.
Bosai has shut down its operations for the past 7 days, resulting in huge financial losses in production. Approximately 600 employees have been affected, and the impact of the protest will be even more pronounced, as workers will be unable to receive their pay packets on Friday.
This setback comes at a time when the principals of BOSAI are reviewing future investment and expansion plans said to be worth approximately US$200M, with 1,000 jobs set to be created therefrom.
The Natural Resources Ministry has, however, said it is continuing to engage all stakeholders in the mining sector on the impact of the protests, even as it continues exploring alternatives.