PPP shares view of supporting stakeholders
– General Secretary Rohee

GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Clement Rohee shares the view of supporting stakeholders that the statement by Muri Brasil Ventures Inc. is “expansive”.
They all maintain it speaks volumes in reflecting the challenges faced in the Government’s development thrust.

“The statement that they (the company) issued is one that those who opposed the venture will have to answer to,” Rohee told a Freedom House press conference yesterday.
Muri Brasil had announced, over the weekend, that it will no longer pursue its geographical and geophysical survey under the Permission for Geographical and Geophysical Survey (PGGS) in the New River Triangle area, which was granted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
In its statement, Muri Brasil Ventures, said: “Although the process was legal and transparent, this decision is due to the misinformation, prejudice and hostility to this proposed survey by persons and agencies, which are fostering an adverse investment climate in Guyana.”
The December 30, 2013, decision makes the company the latest major investor lost by Guyana.
Registered in Guyana under the Companies Act with local shareholders, Muri expressed its appreciation for those who supported the project amidst the controversial debates over the last few weeks.
The PGGS document, signed between the GGMC and Muri Brasil Ventures Inc., was leaked to the press and led to allegations that Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Robert Persaud, withheld information, an allegation he has denied.
Among signatories
The minister was among signatories for the PGGS, which was issued on November 7, 2012, for several types of minerals in the New River area of South-East Berbice.
Muri Brasil Ventures Inc. itself joined the debate, making clear, to the PGGS, that there was nothing “opaque” about its deal with the Natural Resources Ministry.
In the mid-December 2013 statement, the company had said it applied for the PGGS following an advertisement by the Government.
And, in clarifying its activities, said: “Exploration activities have not commenced, because permission is being awaited for the construction of a small airstrip to facilitate the airborne aspect of the survey. Other research activities have taken place.”
The clause within the PGGS that paves the way for the granting of at least 18 prospecting licences, was the main bone of contention, since the Natural Resources Ministry had indicated that no mining activity was being done in the New River Triangle.
However, Muri Brasil Ventures Inc. explained that these kinds of exploration activities cost millions of United States (U.S.) dollars, which can only be sourced as exploration investments from outside of Guyana.
The company said: “No such investments would be available if the investor is given no assurance that it will be granted prospecting licences. The investor takes a risk. If he or she is not assured of a potential return, investment capital will dry up and so will Guyana’s mining industry.”
Constant exploration
According to the company, constant exploration activities are essential to accelerate the mining industry. But, before a prospecting licence is issued, a work programme and financial and technical capabilities of a company must be supplied.
“A prospecting licence does not, necessarily, lead to a mining licence, because minerals in commercial quantities may not be available,” the investor stated.
“It has been asserted that there is an impropriety inherent in the fact that the PGGS is issued for seven different minerals, rather than a single one.
“The Mining Act permits the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to issue permits or licences over the same area to different persons for different minerals and a PGGS is “qualitatively different” from a mining permit.
Amidst the controversy over activity in the New Triangle area, Muri Brasil Ventures Inc. has expressed the hope that there would be no adverse impacts on the PGGS.

(By Vanessa Narine)