A MULTI-MILLION dollar mining operation in the Middle Mazaruni River just below Itaki was halted on Thursday morning after it was discovered that permission was never granted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for the dredge owner to operate in that area. As such, the operation was deemed illegal and an order was issued for all work to cease with immediate effect. The cease work order was issued by GGMC’s Mines Division Manager (ag), Dianne McDonald and the Deputy Chief Mines Officer, Kerwin Josiah, who were part of GGMC officials led by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes.

Minister Broomes and her team came across the illegal operation, while conducting a sweep of the Middle Mazaruni corridor in Cuyuni-Mazaruni District –, an exercise which included more than 12 hours of travelling by river amid a host of rapids, falls and heavy showers.
The mining operation, situated just below Itaki, was the second of several operations inspected by the team to ensure that they were operating in keeping with regulations governing the extractive industry. Additionally, the team sought to ascertain the challenges faced by miners in the area with aim of arriving at possible solutions.
It was while the team was conducting its inspection that the deputy chief mines officer realised that the dredge owner, Desmond Mattis, had no written permission to work in that area.
In fact, at the time of the visit, the GGMC officials could not ascertain the owner of the property; however, according to Mattis it is owned by Ricky Ramnarine, to whom he pays a percentage of his gold. Mattis told the officials that the property is an “alternative”.
Josiah made it clear that permission to operate on any mining property must be issued by the Commissioner of Geology and Mines Commission following an application by both the dredge owner and property owner.
However, it was noted that while Mattis did not have any written permission to operate on the property, his dredge license and production book were in order.
Mattis told Guyana Chronicle that while he was told about not having written permission when two mines officers had visited the site last September, he was unable to get the required documents from the owner.
“They told us about the permission thing but I push it to the people them (owner) and all they keep saying is just go and work,” he said.

A LOSS
Although his operation includes more than five excavators and skidders, and a workforce of approximately 60 persons, Mattis said he has been operating at a loss.

“For the longest while we ain’t really doing nothing but we would pay Ramnarine a percentage… is nuff investment I mek in hey because right now we owe a man, we got to pay back $45M for these machines. He buy the excavators for us and we got to pay him back and plus I owe the bank for the bulldozers,” Mattis murmured.
In response to his cries, Minister Broomes explained that while the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government is in full support of miners, miners are required to operate within the realm of the laws. She said Government is putting the requisite systems in place to assist miners, but miners must also play their part.
She pointed out that for more than a year, Mattis, although fully aware that he did not have the required approval to operate on the property was operating nevertheless, thereby putting his investment at risk.
“Some of the equipment that was registered, he has since modified them to eight inch from six inch. All these things require permission,” the Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry further pointed out.
When asked about the status of the property, the dredge owner told the minister, that it was an alternative land secured by Ramnarine. In response, Minister Broomes said she has a serious problem with the issuance of alternatives, explaining that some miners deliberatively file for an alternative property after making claims that they are unable to mine on the initial lands provided.

“GGMC without conducting any investigation, grants the alternative, allowing the person to get a mining license to mine anywhere he or she chooses,” she further explained.
This issue, Minister Broomes said she intends to raise with the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and the Commission.
DISAPPOINTED
Additionally, the Minister had expressed disappointment that the particular operation was visited by mines officers last year and that they had failed to issue a cease order, although they were aware that it was an illegal operation.
GGMC has since launched an investigation, and Mattis was advised of the necessary steps to be taken to bring himself in compliance with the laws.
Just over the Mazaruni River from Mattis’ camp, there were several illegal shops operating. A wooden shack divided into four smaller rooms was also visible but most of the rooms were locked.
“Dem women musi sleep out last night,” 22-year-old Dalyn Stewart said as she sought to explain the absence of the other women who are usually on site.
According to Stewart, she has been “running” one of the shops for the past five months.
However, Minister Broomes was informed by the GGMC officers that the owners of the illegal shops were given marching orders since last year.
In fact, in 2012, GGMC had dismantled the illegal shops in the area, but they have since been rebuilt and there are signs of expansion.

Not far from that location, the team came across a dredge camp owned by Bibi Mohamed and her brother Nicolas Mohamed – a property held under a mine permit.
Though that operation was legal, the deputy chief mines officer noted that the mining conditions were unsafe.
“The danger there is if mining should continue, then, you can end up having fatalities in terms of loss of limbs and life, because when the water is high, it would flood and carry away the whole place,” Josiah explained.
He said before mining recommences on that property, a mining plan should first be initiated. Additionally, there was the issue of pollution, which appeared to be widespread in that part of the mining district.
MORE TO BE DONE
Based on the areas inspected, the Mines Divisional Manager concluded that there is much more to be done by GGMC to ensure that the regulations are upheld.
“It is clear that we at GGMC, we have a lot of work to do, because as you would have noticed, we came across some none compliance in some of the areas where we stopped,” she told Guyana Chronicle. McDonald said mine operators must recommit to operate in keeping with the regulations governing the sector.
Minister Broomes said based on the areas visited in Middle Mazaruni, a recommendation would be made to have a GGMC branch office set up in Issano to assist in the monitoring of the area in a quest to eradicate illegal mining.
Secondly, she noted that a report will be submitted to the Minister of State on the state of the environment in the mining district. Throughout the visit, she had expressed serious concerns about the water pollution, erosion and deforestation in the mining district.