THE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment yesterday rejected assertions in an article published by Kaieteur News regarding Surendra Mining Inc, saying that due process had been followed and opportunities calling for objections to the company had been facilitated by the very newspaper.

Kaieteur News yesterday in its lead article suggested that the company that received the prospecting licence had enjoyed a privileged position with government.
The Natural Resources Ministry yesterday, however, rejected the notion of any secrecy in the transaction, saying that the Prospecting Licence  application in question, Surendra Mines Guyana Inc, “was contained in full page advertisements including the Kaieteur News on July 13, 2012.”
The ministry maintained that this was done to receive any objections or comments, but “none were received.”
It said also that the list was additionally circulated to the media on July 12, 2012.
The ministry in rejecting the content of the article further stated that “the granting of a Prospecting Licence is not a licence to mine but rather to prospect before consideration to grant approval for mining.”
According to the statement issued by the ministry yesterday, “there is no secrecy and the process is open for review for any stakeholders.”
It added that government through the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment also subscribed to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, to have a high level of standards and transparency in the operation of the mining sector.
According to the public missive issued, the rules governing who can apply for a prospecting licence includes any other corporate body incorporated in or outside Guyana, including a company established outside Guyana, a company within the meaning of the companies Act, an individual who is a citizen of Guyana and an adult, a public corporation, a co-operative society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act and any organisation established by government or by or under written law in Guyana and authorized to carry on mining operations.
The ministry stated after satisfactory submission of the required documents, the application is processed and if recommended will be sent to the Official Gazette for publication.
“If there are no objections to the grant then ministerial approval is sought.”
The term of the Prospecting Licence is for three years, with two rights of renewal of one year each.
The Mining Act 1989 stipulates that three months prior to each anniversary date of the licence, a work programme and budget for the following year must be presented for approval for the work to be undertaken during the following year.
The ministry further stated that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and its Board of Directors follow due diligence in the processing of all applications.
It said that Surendra Mining (Guyana) Inc. applied for two Prospecting Licences on March 02, 2012 which were approved by the Board of Directors of the GGMC on April 05 and published in the Official Gazette on November 10, 2012. After receiving no objections, clarifications or comments, the two Prospecting Licences were granted on March 04, 2013.