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THERE is something amiss about activities in our gold-mining industry, as of recent there has been a series of violent deaths in mining communities. Such a trend will negatively impact on our burgeoning mining industry. Last year there were several deaths in mining areas, including those of two young policemen.
More recently, a 25-year old miner was beaten to death in Cuyuni. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle from her home, Barbra James explained that she was at work on Wednesday when she got a call from someone who informed her that her son had been beaten in the interior.
The woman said she immediately called the man for whom her son works and informed him about the news she had received. She said the man informed her that he was not in the interior location but rather in the city.
The man however told her that he will call into the camp to find out what is really going on and get back to her. The man kept his promise and when he called her back, he informed her that her son’s hand was broken.
According to Ms. James, she was sitting at her sister’s boutique on Wednesday evening at about 19:00 hrs, when her son’s employer came and told her that they are bringing out three of the young men from the area and one of them is dead.
One could imagine the shock and grief of the mother. Such grief is not easy to handle and could be so devastating that it destroys people emotionally and mentally.
In view of this worrisome criminal trend in these mining communities it is imperative to tighten security measures and to have more intensive monitoring of activities. And this cannot only involve the police; it has to be a collaborative effort of all stakeholders including miners and residents of the various communities.
If the trend of violent crimes in the mining communities is not curbed it will not only bring further grief to the families and relatives of victims but it will also serve as a disincentive to potential investors in the mining sector.
In recent years, the gold-mining industry has experienced unprecedented success both in terms of investments and production; as such, it has been playing an increasingly important role in the national economy and the creation of jobs, both direct and indirect.
Two more recent investments in the gold-mining industry will result in the creation of over 550 jobs by 2015.
It is therefore absolutely necessary to ensure that security is boosted in the mining communities. Our country cannot be allowed to lose precious lives which at the same time could threaten the stability of the gold-mining industry.
Of course, it has to be acknowledged that because of the terrain of the interior communities and limited resources, boosting security in these communities would be no easy task by any means, but at the same time it is an imperative one because the situation must not be allowed to get out of hand.
More recently, a 25-year old miner was beaten to death in Cuyuni. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle from her home, Barbra James explained that she was at work on Wednesday when she got a call from someone who informed her that her son had been beaten in the interior.
The woman said she immediately called the man for whom her son works and informed him about the news she had received. She said the man informed her that he was not in the interior location but rather in the city.
The man however told her that he will call into the camp to find out what is really going on and get back to her. The man kept his promise and when he called her back, he informed her that her son’s hand was broken.
According to Ms. James, she was sitting at her sister’s boutique on Wednesday evening at about 19:00 hrs, when her son’s employer came and told her that they are bringing out three of the young men from the area and one of them is dead.
One could imagine the shock and grief of the mother. Such grief is not easy to handle and could be so devastating that it destroys people emotionally and mentally.
In view of this worrisome criminal trend in these mining communities it is imperative to tighten security measures and to have more intensive monitoring of activities. And this cannot only involve the police; it has to be a collaborative effort of all stakeholders including miners and residents of the various communities.
If the trend of violent crimes in the mining communities is not curbed it will not only bring further grief to the families and relatives of victims but it will also serve as a disincentive to potential investors in the mining sector.
In recent years, the gold-mining industry has experienced unprecedented success both in terms of investments and production; as such, it has been playing an increasingly important role in the national economy and the creation of jobs, both direct and indirect.
Two more recent investments in the gold-mining industry will result in the creation of over 550 jobs by 2015.
It is therefore absolutely necessary to ensure that security is boosted in the mining communities. Our country cannot be allowed to lose precious lives which at the same time could threaten the stability of the gold-mining industry.
Of course, it has to be acknowledged that because of the terrain of the interior communities and limited resources, boosting security in these communities would be no easy task by any means, but at the same time it is an imperative one because the situation must not be allowed to get out of hand.
