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BETWEEN 1849 and 1857, reports of gold discoveries in Essequibo began circulating in Guyana.
Beginning in the early 1980s, the growth in the gold and diamond mining industries had attracted many Amerindians, with some of them becoming wealthy. Other Amerindians employed in medium or large-scale mining operations were also able to quickly earn large amounts of cash.
Mining now attracts many indigenous people from all parts of Guyana. The scale of Amerindian involvement in the sector is causing consumer goods’ acquisition to become a measure of status and has devalued subsistence agriculture and other socio-cultural practices.
In the formative years of the gold mining industry, there was a negative effect on the labour force, particularly on African labourers from the sugar industry who departed in large numbers for the gold fields. Gold mining became very attractive for these men and they singly, or as groups, departed for the interior in search of gold. Most times they ate ‘salted pork’, hence their reference name of ‘porkknocker’.
Bartica, an Amerindian word meaning ‘Red Earth’, situated at the confluence of the Mazaruni, Cuyuni and Essequibo Rivers, became very popular as it became a gateway to the Interior.
Many actions were developed to discourage coastal miners from leaving the work force on the coastal belt, especially from the sugar estates. The colonial government, for example, in 1896 published its Mining Regulations which placed several demands on gold miners, possibly with an intention of discouraging labourers from moving into the gold fields. These actions did not deter them from seeking their fortune. Today, miners are guided and regulated by the Mining Regulations which were designed to discourage their ambitions of becoming independent.
Over time, as Guyana became more aware of the wealth in the natural resources sector, the need for a regulated approach to sustainably exploit the resources became a priority. Existing legislations were reviewed and amended to address new emerging and future legislative requirements.
Acts and regulations were developed for agencies and commissions within a specific natural resources sector. These include the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Guyana Gold Board, National Parks Commission, Protected Areas Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Wild Life Division.
Over time, a new government ministry was created, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, on March 14, 2006, and the Amerindian Act 2006, was enacted. In 2011, another ministry was established, that of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, which has the mandate to harmonise and manage the natural resources sector.
Despite the many changes in economic and social sectors in the interior, most Amerindians continued to operate outside the cash economy and were still dependent on a subsistence way of life.
In the early 1980s, the growth in gold and diamond mining attracted many Amerindians. Over time, some indigenous prospectors become wealthy in villages such as Isseneru and Jawalla, Region 7. There are other communities and individuals that enjoy such benefits from the mining industry.
The scale of Amerindian involvement in the mining industry is causing some non-Amerindian groups and individuals to seek partnership with them to create a better working relationship and access to lands.
Additionally, most of the indigenous villages and communities now have legal titles which total over 29,000 square kilometers or 13 per cent of the national territory, and are designed to be collectively owned. Their holdings demonstrate that the indigenous people are the second largest land owners, second only to the state. In their efforts to earn cash, some village leaders have reached contractual arrangements with loggers and mining companies.
The mining industry in Guyana has grown from strength to strength, and alongside that growth has been the indigenous people’s as well.
Currently, with existing acts and regulations, the indigenous people have benefited in many ways. The Amerindian Act 2006 is the primary guide for them to ensure their benefits are secure and accessible.
In 2012, soon after the creation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, a cheque valued $49M, representing royalties for the period 2006-2011, was presented to Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai by the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud for the Amerindian Development Fund, a special fund designated to develop programmes for the indigenous people.
Since then, it has become customary during Mining Week to present the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs with a cheque representing royalties for the year.
The mining industry in Guyana continues to grow; and with that growth, the indigenous people continue to contribute and become a critical element of the industry’s successes and achievements. (GINA)
Beginning in the early 1980s, the growth in the gold and diamond mining industries had attracted many Amerindians, with some of them becoming wealthy. Other Amerindians employed in medium or large-scale mining operations were also able to quickly earn large amounts of cash.
Mining now attracts many indigenous people from all parts of Guyana. The scale of Amerindian involvement in the sector is causing consumer goods’ acquisition to become a measure of status and has devalued subsistence agriculture and other socio-cultural practices.
In the formative years of the gold mining industry, there was a negative effect on the labour force, particularly on African labourers from the sugar industry who departed in large numbers for the gold fields. Gold mining became very attractive for these men and they singly, or as groups, departed for the interior in search of gold. Most times they ate ‘salted pork’, hence their reference name of ‘porkknocker’.
Bartica, an Amerindian word meaning ‘Red Earth’, situated at the confluence of the Mazaruni, Cuyuni and Essequibo Rivers, became very popular as it became a gateway to the Interior.
Many actions were developed to discourage coastal miners from leaving the work force on the coastal belt, especially from the sugar estates. The colonial government, for example, in 1896 published its Mining Regulations which placed several demands on gold miners, possibly with an intention of discouraging labourers from moving into the gold fields. These actions did not deter them from seeking their fortune. Today, miners are guided and regulated by the Mining Regulations which were designed to discourage their ambitions of becoming independent.
Over time, as Guyana became more aware of the wealth in the natural resources sector, the need for a regulated approach to sustainably exploit the resources became a priority. Existing legislations were reviewed and amended to address new emerging and future legislative requirements.
Acts and regulations were developed for agencies and commissions within a specific natural resources sector. These include the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Guyana Gold Board, National Parks Commission, Protected Areas Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and Wild Life Division.
Over time, a new government ministry was created, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, on March 14, 2006, and the Amerindian Act 2006, was enacted. In 2011, another ministry was established, that of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, which has the mandate to harmonise and manage the natural resources sector.
Despite the many changes in economic and social sectors in the interior, most Amerindians continued to operate outside the cash economy and were still dependent on a subsistence way of life.
In the early 1980s, the growth in gold and diamond mining attracted many Amerindians. Over time, some indigenous prospectors become wealthy in villages such as Isseneru and Jawalla, Region 7. There are other communities and individuals that enjoy such benefits from the mining industry.
The scale of Amerindian involvement in the mining industry is causing some non-Amerindian groups and individuals to seek partnership with them to create a better working relationship and access to lands.
Additionally, most of the indigenous villages and communities now have legal titles which total over 29,000 square kilometers or 13 per cent of the national territory, and are designed to be collectively owned. Their holdings demonstrate that the indigenous people are the second largest land owners, second only to the state. In their efforts to earn cash, some village leaders have reached contractual arrangements with loggers and mining companies.
The mining industry in Guyana has grown from strength to strength, and alongside that growth has been the indigenous people’s as well.
Currently, with existing acts and regulations, the indigenous people have benefited in many ways. The Amerindian Act 2006 is the primary guide for them to ensure their benefits are secure and accessible.
In 2012, soon after the creation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, a cheque valued $49M, representing royalties for the period 2006-2011, was presented to Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai by the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud for the Amerindian Development Fund, a special fund designated to develop programmes for the indigenous people.
Since then, it has become customary during Mining Week to present the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs with a cheque representing royalties for the year.
The mining industry in Guyana continues to grow; and with that growth, the indigenous people continue to contribute and become a critical element of the industry’s successes and achievements. (GINA)
