By Ariana Gordon

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes says she “will not buckle” as allegations of conflict of interest continue to surface following the transfer of a dredge to her children.

Broomes, a miner for more than 28 years, told reporters on Monday that she will stand up to all the challenges before her, while asserting that “there is no conflict of interest” and “I have done nothing wrong.”

The Minister explained that she and her family have been involved in mining for more than two decades and when she became Junior Minister of Natural Resources she decided to have her dredge, which has been out of operation for a number of years, be transferred to her children.

“I am not responding to the attack…what is circulating is very deliberate and I expected it,” she told reporters during a media briefing at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Brickdam.

She was at the time making reference to an article carried by the Stabroek News on Sunday and one carried by the Guyana Times on Monday. Both articles alleged conflict of interest by the transfer but Broomes reiterated that she has done nothing wrong.

“I transferred a dredge…I did not transfer a Mining Permit (MP) to my daughter…a dredge is what I transferred…that is all I transferred,” she added as she explained that the dredge has been in existence for decades.

The Minister added that the allegation of conflict of interest is vexatious as she has no role to play in the granting of permission to mine. Broomes applied for the transfer of the dredge to her children, one of whom bears the same first and last names, as she.

“To say that special favours were handed down is false. I have no saying in these matters.”

Broomes added that her children who are involved in the industry have no choice but to comply with the laws. She said her position as a Minister would not grant them special privileges.

“While my children are in the sector they have no other door to go through but the right one…I think it is very outstanding that a Minister has a child towing the line and going by the law,” she noted.

Broomes said too, should there be a real issue of conflict of interest, she will not be responsible for the handling of the matter, as that lies with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

Additionally, the Minister said she was not asked by any government official to transfer her dredge to her children.

“My children are Guyanese, the Constitution says every Guyanese has a right to earn…to move an attack from me to my children…my children have committed no crime,” she asserted.