MINISTER within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes has said that bullyism has become a major issue in mining districts with some miners overpowering smaller ones, even with the help of the police and the use of force.Broomes highlighted this issue when she met with three women miners who had visited her office to lay their complaints. They subsequently got justice through the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

Minister Broomes had earlier attended to the complaints and the miners were required to return to her office on Wednesday for a final decision. One of the miners, Lucilia Emanuel, visited the minister to seek help to resolve a conflict that prevented her from accessing her own claim for which she holds a licence. The misunderstanding was even reflected in two injunctions filed in the High Court.
The injunction which was seen by the Guyana Chronicle was filed by Mario Rodrigues on December 23, 2015, restraining “Gustav Paul and Winston Emanuel from entering, repossessing and or trespassing in any manner whatsoever on the lands held by Plaintiffs under Mining Permit No. 73…”
That particular Mining Permit, the document states, covers Block No. 59. Block 59 is located in the Tiger Creek area in the Mahadia Mining District, which is also Mining District 2.
Competent GGMC officers
Broomes noted that the GGMC officers have been competent in establishing that the Emanuels are the rightful owners of the claim for which they hold a licence, but are not allowed to work there.
“GGMC already made our point clear. She has a licence for the place. It is not a claim that we got to verify… and this injunction did not stop her at all from working her claim, so I think Ms. Emanuel’s story is one of bullyism,” Minister Broomes told the media yesterday during the meeting.
“I think that justice is well served with Mrs. Emanuel … because the injunction from the court is here and the injunction never stopped Mr. Emanuel from working the claim that is lawfully held by them for which he got a licence. But what I think is happening in this case is “bullyism”… she mentioned the force and threat, and persons going in with guns … When the police showed up and said that you’ve got to move off the place and all that, that is what have her in the dilemma.”
Broomes said she believes the police might not have read the injunction and because of their misunderstanding of the matter, have collaborated with the plaintiff in the matter to put the Emanuels off their claim.
The Emanuels’ claim is not in conflict, according to the document, but GGMC will soon visit the area and make bold demarcations which will allow clarity in claiming their locations by all parties involved.
The minister has also spoken to the ‘F’ Division Commander Ravindradat Budhram, and will provide him with a copy of the injunction so that he can better understand the matter and advise his officers accordingly.
Broomes also noted that nobody is currently allowed to work in the controversial area, but GGMC will do demarcations and advise in terms of environmental safety.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Evariste Fraitas has been the holder of claims for some years now, but was not getting through with her licence to work the land, which is close to the Emanuels. Her land will also be properly marked and she will be allowed to work, with her licence in hand.
Mrs. Mary Evitalis said her husband holds a claim in Ekereku, in the Cuyuni Mining District. While they held the claims and paid their rentals, GGMC informed them by letter in 2014 that the claims were no longer valid and are no longer theirs. Mrs. Evitalis said after visits to the department proved futile, the family spent over $1 million in a court battle with the commission to repossess their lands. She said they were back and forth in the court matter and were becoming bankrupt, since they were prohibited from working the lands, her family’s main source of income.
She complained to Minister Broomes and after all the parties involved, including GGMC, the ministry and legal personnel, examined the facts, it was agreed that the matter be closed and GGMC will process the family’s licence so that they can utilise their mining lands.
Solutions
“But it’s just the whole pattern of how people would have had their rightful property and people who have money and influence just come and dominate and bully them… it is so sad. We got to put an end to it. We’ve got to advocate strong. It is very unfortunate that persons would have their claims and have to go through the court… these things are deliberate, because most times they try to put the claim holders and some of the miners who cannot afford, who we call the smaller miners… in court because they figure that they would not rally out in the court because they don’t have money,” Minister Broomes observed.
She added, “I’m very happy that we have solutions so for many years the problem that you would have been fetching around, would have been one of the past. So I want you to go out there and work your place and get rich,” she told the miners.

By Shauna Jemmott