MEMBERS of the Guyana Women Miner’s Organisation (GMWO) were yesterday beneficiaries of a gift of a fully loaded Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver which will serve as a valuable tool in their operations as miners. The equipment receives GPS signals from satellites for the purpose of determining the device’s current location and by extension its operator on Earth.
The receiver was handed over to President of the GMWO, Ms. Simone Broomes by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud on behalf of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) during a meeting of members of the Organisation at the Sea Breeze Hotel, Pere Street, Kitty, Georgetown.
Mr. Rickford Vieira, Deputy Commissioner of the GGMC was present on behalf of the Commission.
Persaud said that the handing over of the equipment to the women was another measure of support by the GGMC and his ministry in helping them to achieve their objectives as miners as well as their overall objectives within the industry.
“This is another indication of our support for your organisation,” he said adding that other support such as the handing over of a block of land to the GMWO and training of its members in the use of heavy duty equipment were all in the pipeline.
He said a plot of land has been identified for the members of the GMWO in Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) and the necessary processing is currently in progress.
The training of women in the use of heavy duty equipment is currently being explored.
Members received training in the use of the GPS and map tracking in July last.
Persaud noted that being in the possession of the GPS receiver meant that the women miners can now be able to verify the boundaries of claims on the ground in an undisputed way.
“Not so long ago you were only able to determine boundaries of claims using rivers or creeks or mountains or other physical landmarks. That is all behind us now.”
He said that the GGMC was now using the GPS system to delineate boundaries and the receiver was as a result a necessary tool of trade for all miners.
The receiver handed over to the GMWO was fully loaded with all the information and co-ordinates in possession of the GGMC so the users would be well equipped with this valuable tool in their field activities.
Mrs. Broomes effusively thanked the minister and the GGMC for the gift and pledged to continue cordial collaboration with the Ministry and the GGMC as the members continue with their programme to consolidate empowerment of women in mining industry.
The GMWO was formed by women miners in January this year.
Its objectives include definition of the roles and contributions of women miners, highlighting the problems they face, helping them secure financing and easy access to credit; establishing standardized procedures for women to resolve challenges they face while mining; and addressing issues of abuse, trafficking, and prostitution within mining communities.