–as Region 10 launches bauxite centennial

By Vanessa Braithwaite

AS Region 10 celebrates 100 years of bauxite mining, the centennial committee yesterday hosted a ceremonial launching of the observances, which will climax in October.The launch was held at the site that is earmarked for the construction of an industrial museum, which should be completed by October.

The site is located at the railway which the trains traversed transporting the bauxite from the mines to the processing plant.
Present at the launch were members of the centennial committee, including Horace James, Chairman; former President and Prime Minister and Guymine employee Samuel Hinds; former Minister of Public Works and Guymine employee Robeson Benn; Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland; Deputy Mayor Waneka Arrindel; Regional Chairman Renis Morian; General Manager of Bosai, Eric Yu; members of the old bauxite employees body, and many other stakeholders in Linden.

BAUXITE MINING
Mr. Horace James told the audience that the ceremony is just a prelude to greater things to come, and the aim is mainly to educate the students of Linden on the significance of bauxite mining and the role it played in the development of the town and the country.

“It is important that people know that bauxite mining started in October 1916, and the history and the role that bauxite played in the development of Linden, of Guyana, and (in) World Wars 1 and 2,” he said.

James posited that bauxite mining can be deemed responsible for Linden being developed into a community and later a town. Without bauxite, Linden would not have even been occupied.

“This area would have been like other settlements along the Demerara River, other than for bauxite; but this town was established as a company town,” Mr. James noted.

Former bauxite worker and history enthusiast Winslow Paris performed a dramatic poem, illustrating his days at the bauxite company and the way many persons migrated to Linden to be in the employ of the then bauxite company. At that time, he said, bauxite took care of the entire country, and even though there is a decline in bauxite mining, Lindeners are still surviving, as they are a contented people.

EARLY DAYS
Bauxite mining started in 1916 when a Scotsman, George Bain Mackenzie, came to Linden and observed bauxite in the soil. He fooled the residents, giving them the impression that he wanted to plant oranges. After his death, other expatriates came and commenced bauxite mining in the community of Three Friends. At that time, manual methods such as pickaxe and spade were used to access the bauxite in the soil. However, as the bauxite went deeper in the soil, the companies began using heavy duty machinery such as excavators and walking draglines.
The first company to commence bauxite mining was the Demerara Bauxite Company (Demba), an offshoot of the Canadian Aluminum Company (Alcan), then followed Guymine, Linmine, Linpa, Omai, and now Bosai.

NATIONALIZATION
The bauxite company was nationalized in 1971, and after operating at a loss, the then Government was on the verge of closing operations, as the Consolidated Fund was forced to fetch the financial burden of the company, with US$15M per year. The high competition in the alumina market was deemed responsible for this.

Many private companies showed interest in the company, but the one who was willing to invest in the ailing company was Chinese company BOSAI Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc., who commenced operations in 2007 and is still in operation.

The General Manager of BOSAI Inc. told the audience that his company was pleased to have significantly contributed to the economy of Guyana and to the foreign industry.

“BOSAI company is honoured to be with you to experience this historical moment,” he said. Yu noted that among BOSAI’s biggest contributions to the Linden community was the installation of the dust collector system, which cost the company US$8M.

BOSAI will also be contributing a memorial arch for the 100-year celebration, and will lend support to other projects for the observances.

Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds gave a synopsis of the reasons for the company being nationalized, and how the bauxite company struggled to stay alive after being forced to retrench workers and close several mining operations.

DIVERSIFICATION
He also encouraged Lindeners to accept that the glory days of bauxite are over and residents need to diversify in an effort to keep the economy going.

Mayor Carwyn Holland, in his brief remarks, said he is not prepared to do away completely with the bauxite industry, but does agree that diversification is a solution to the ailing economy of Linden.

“Instead of doing away with bauxite, we can add other means of expanding our economy in Linden, but we should strengthen the industry and bring it back to a better place,” he advised.

Mayor Holland stressed that Linden should be compensated for the years of bauxite mining that contributed to the development of the country and the world.

“Bauxite has made significant contributions to Guyana over its 100 years…. Many contributions were made to the development of this country… In fact, all the beneficiaries should play a part at this time in the restructuring and upgrading of Linden,” Mayor Holland said.

Linden, he added, needs help in many ways, and persons should come onboard to assist.

These sentiments were also echoed by Regional Chairman Renis Morian.

The bauxite centennial committee plans to construct an industrial museum, a commemorative arch, and a statue of a bauxite man; and will also host a bauxite symposium and produce a centennial magazine.