By Ariana Gordon

CONTRARY to the many coastlanders’ claims of persons going to mining districts across the country to “make fast money”, a few young miners working in North Fork Backdam have said they had no other option.Poverty has left them in desperate situations, and with not many jobs available where they come from, they felt their only resort was to “wuk in the bush”.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle on Saturday, 17-year-old Delwin Rogers, who hails from the mining town of Linden, disclosed that his lifelong dream is to become an architect. He is unsure how he would realise his dream, but hopes that one day that dream would be fulfilled.

The teenage miner left his mother’s home to work in the interior after leaving school to “help out” with the home situation.

He said things are not easy with his family, and he accordingly has made a conscious decision to work in the hinterland.

“They ain’t got wuk in Linden. Right now, most of these youths ain’t getting work on the road, so you have to look for money and come where the money deh,” he told Guyana Chronicle boldly.

The young man has a younger sister, and he said he wants his family, which includes his mother and younger sister, to be comfortable. He said that while it is hard work, he will remain committed to the task, as he has goals he wants to achieve.

Rogers, who has been working in the interior for approximately nine months, describes life there as “nice”. But while he said “it nice here, yeah,” the teenager has no intention of spending the rest of his life in search of gold.

DREAMS
“I have dreams…I would like to become an architect or an artist,” he said, noting that while his life has deviated from the path he had wanted to take, he is thankful. “Things really ain’t pan out how it supposed to go. I really ain’t had the money to go and further my studies…so I now looking to achieve meh own thing,” Rogers explained.

The young man disclosed that he earns approximately $60,000 per week while in the backdam. With that kind of money, he would be in a better position to save enough money to go back to school and fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming an architect.

“I earning meh own money, and I gonna achieve meh studies…I gonna go far,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

Acknowledging that being a miner is not easy, the young man said that with determination nothing is hard. He noted that challenges inevitably confront those living away from home, but he said challenges do not distract him from his goals.

“It is hard work… it depends on where you going to work,” Rogers added.

Asked what advice he would give to other youngsters, who may be losing hope because of poverty, the 17-year-old said: “I’d say to them ‘stay in school, stay away from bad company, take in your education, further your studies and…be your own boss’.”

Twenty-four-year-old Romain George, like Rogers, had found himself in a situation in which he had to assume the responsibility of taking care of his younger siblings. He told Guyana Chronicle that his parents died and he had no choice but to search for an honest means of earning an income.

The Kildonan Village, Corentyne resident said he started working in North Fork only four months ago, and while it is extremely difficult, he cannot stop as he has to provide for his younger sister and brother, who are in school.

“Since my mother and father died, the only alternative was try it in the interior,” George said. “Pon the road ain’t get enough money for me to look after me lil brother and small sister. I had to come in the interior and work and send a piece of money to mek sure he and she going to school,” the miner stated.

NOT EASY
The young man said life is difficult, and being poor is not easy. He now acts as mother and father to his siblings to the best of his ability. George has an older sibling, who is 27 years old. She also assists in taking care of the younger ones.

“Life is work hard every day…got to work hard every single day… waking up six in the morning and working till six pm,” he told Guyana Chronicle.

All George wants is to see his siblings through school, so they can enjoy a comfortable life.

Like Rogers and George, there are many other young men, and in some cases women, who believe that they are unable to find jobs on the coast, and so their best option is to seek employment in the interior.

Another miner told the Guyana Chronicle, under condition of anonymity, “The situation is sad, because these young people have their whole lives ahead of them, but lack of money, support and proper guidance have forced them to come here, seeking greener pastures.” The miner noted that he has seen situations wherein some young persons who go to the interior to work send all the money they’ve worked for to their families, while they stay without.

“It is not easy for them, you know; it really and truly isn’t. People think that all miners are money-grabbing beasts, but the fact of the matter is (that) we have families to maintain, just like everybody else; and if there aren’t jobs for us, then what should we do? It is better that these youngsters come into the bush than commit crimes and be in jail,” the miner explained.

Having worked in several mining districts across the country, the miner said it is his hope that youngsters like Rogers and George are provided the assistance they need to lead successful lives.

“All they need is support…with that they will progress. They are young,” the miner explained.