THE Golden Beach at Bartica was transformed into a campsite as hundreds from Georgetown and Bartica came together on Saturday to participate in Pork-knocker’s Day activities, culminating a week of events to mark Mining Week 2016.

This year, Mining Week activities were observed under the theme: “Extracting Minerals, Underscoring Safety, Preserving the Environment.”
During the course of the day, the Guyana Chronicle spoke with the Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford. He stated that the turnout was disappointing, especially from small and medium-scale miners. He suggested that the low price of gold and the resultant shock to the industry over the past four years have contributed to the decline in participation.
Despite the challenges, he stated that “Pork-knocker’s Day is here to stay.”
The chairman stated that in collaboration with the mayor and councillors, they are looking to make the activity a major tourist attraction, with better planning come next year and the years to come.
The booths that were set up were mostly from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and private investors.

The first competition of the day involved bahirs (cooks) preparing breakfast for sampling by judges as part of the bahir competition.
Among the other activities were a mines rescue demonstration, a camp- building competition, cook- up competition, shovelling competition, and other activities that occur in mining areas.
President of the National Mine Workers’ Union of Guyana, Sherwyn Downer, said he was disappointed over the absence of Ministers of Natural Resources, Minister Raphael Trotman and Minister Simona Broomes.
He added that what happened on Saturday was beyond sad, since Pork-knockers Day is a day to show appreciation for workers. Downer also noted that the absence of employers’ camps showed that there is a decline in showing their appreciation for workers.
Downer hopes to see a change, since the onus is on the employers to participate in these activities. He also called on the two ministers to apologise for their absence from Saturday’s event.
Downer is also calling for more participation of workers’ representatives in the organizing of these activities.
Bartica is acknowledged as the gateway to the resource-rich interior locations.