THE NATIONAL Mine Workers’ Union of Guyana, a small body which believes it is a solution to the country’s “troubled” mining industry, is urging the government to invest in the sector.At its maiden press conference yesterday at Sharon’s Building, Charlotte and King Street suites, President of the union, Sherwyn Downer, told the media that the mining sector has space for many Guyanese.
“If investment is made it can create thousands of jobs for Guyanese,” he said.
However, according to him, the sector remains a private investment.
Downer highlighted several other issues, which he stated the hinterland-based organisation planned to address; these include labour issues. He said that the industry was plagued and drowning in labour-related issues. “It remains a challenge in the industry,” Downer posited.
He said that in the 2014/2015 labour reports released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), labour issues dominated other matters. “So it tells the story about what is taking place in the industry,” he added.
Downer said that over the years there have been many reports of ‘cave-ins’ at mining pits in the gold-mining industry across Guyana and many questions remained unanswered. He questioned whether they were legally operated mines.
Downer also highlighted what he termed the trafficking in gold out of Guyana. He said that the press had highlighted information regarding the subject in which the United States authorities claimed it had information on who are the perpetrators of this act. He queried why no one had been brought before the courts to date. He opined that the problem might be related to the licences which were issued to miners.
He explained that the authorities issued prospecting licences as well as gold-mining licences and persons with the former are expected to undertake prospecting activities only. Downer alleged that there are persons who operate mining equipment on lands which are required to have only prospecting activities.
He said that this might be an avenue through which the smugglers take gold out of Guyana undetected. “If I’m in possession of a PL (prospecting licence) and I give you permission to mine, it is illegal,” he continued. He urged the government to investigate the issue, since valuable resources are being lost.
The National Mine Workers’ Union of Guyana was formed early in the third quarter of 2015 and its executive has been engaging stakeholders in the bauxite, gold and sand-mining sectors among others, ever since it came on stream. To date it has a 500-plus membership.
The body’s objectives include the security of social and economic justice for all mining workers, to strive for a just standard of living and social security for all mine workers. In addition, it aims to advance or oppose any law, action or authority, affecting its members as well as to understand how the economy and labour laws affect mine workers. In addition, it aims to reinforce and encourage contact and solidarity among different categories of mine workers.
According to Downer, it is the first union of its kind in Guyana which seeks to unionise and give a voice to all mine workers in Guyana. In addition to its Bartica head office , the union has offices in Port Kaituma and Mahdia .The body is hopeful that now that it is on stream, it will form a working relationship with the relevant government ministries.