– Minister Broomes urges small Middle Mazaruni miners

Small-scale miners operating in Middle Mazaruni said often times they are cheated by those well-established miners, who would grant them permission to operate on their mining

properties, but when the gold is “bore” or found, would then give them marching orders.
Other miners complained that while they have mining claims, access to these areas can be a major challenge, and lack of much-needed equipment such as excavators, further compound the situation.

In response, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, who journeyed to Issano and Kurupung on Thursday, called on the small-scale miners to mobilise themselves into syndicates.
The minister, who has lead responsibility on the allocation of lands for syndicates, explained that through a syndicate, which is similar to a co-op society, small miners can empower themselves, and together address many of the challenges that they are currently facing.
“That money that the syndicate gets, you can take that same money to empower yourself and empower each other,” Minister Broomes told the miners.

At Kurupung, one of the two mining communities visited along the Middle Mazaruni River in Region Seven, Minister Broomes said she is knowledgeable of the fact that in the past, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), had made special provisions to miners operating out of Kurupung.
However, she was told that some of the lands were taken back, and as such, miners were unable to benefit.

But all hopes have not been lost. It was explained that the Natural Resources Ministry through GGMC will be making mining lands available to syndicates, even if they are within closed and cancelled blocks.
Once the syndicates are formed, and the areas are identified, the Ministry will deliver, she assured the miners. With a map in her hands, and assistance from the Deputy Chief Mines Officer, Kerwin Josiah, Minister Broomes pointed out that there are lands available in Kurupung, Takuba, Seroun, Meamu, Perenong, Tamakay, Mazaruni and Eping from which the syndicate when formed can access.

However, before making a decision, she urged the miners to go on the ground, and do their prospecting. Prospecting is the first stage of the geological analysis of a territory which involves the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals.
Additionally, she informed the miners of Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s announcement that his Ministry will be willing to offer syndicates similar concessions to those being offered to the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), once they are tax compliant.

SPECIAL PROVISION
“We are making special provision to accommodate these syndicates. Why? Just to ensure that the good life the President talks about you get it,” Minister Broomes told the small miners.
Over at Issano, she offered similar advice. “Form yourself into syndicates,” she encouraged the miners.

In explaining the benefits of a syndicate, she told the miners, once the syndicate is registered, and its application for a mining block is approved, miners can pool their resources together and operate the land.
“If you pay a percentage to the syndicate, that syndicate can then buy an excavator, a truck, or even fuel to benefit all of its members,” she further explained.

The news that Government will be offering special concessions to syndicates was well received by the miners, who said they will waste no time in forming their syndicates.
Bonalita Lois Critchlow, who has been a miner for close to 12 years operating out of Issano, said the situation facing miners is frustrating.
“Every time you get a piece of land, and you try to settle in, you got to move…and when I left in a hole no body is there to brace me,” she complained.

However, Critchlow is of the opinion that being a part of a syndicate would be meaningful.
Another miner from Issano, Edward Jones told Guyana Chronicle that although he has been a miner for some 25 years, he is still unable to own his own equipment. He said while he has claims in Karanang, he is unable to mine effectively for gold because of lack of equipment.
“I don’t have an excavator and because of that I cannot produce enough gold. Actually, I am producing the least amount of gold,” he said.

Nazim Khan said he has been experiencing similar problems, and as such, would be moving swiftly with the other small miners to form a syndicate in Issano.
There has been a positive response from small miners to the syndicates. Already, syndicates are being processed for miners in areas of Mahdia, Bartica, Karrau.

Accompanying Minister Broomes to the Middle Mazaruni were GGMC’s Mines Division Manager (ag) Dianne McDonald and Deputy Chief Mines Officer, Kerwin Josiah, along with two mines officers Thande Inniss and Gavin Stuart and a Geologist, Kirk Lymerick.
The team of officials was on a mission to determine the challenges facing miners with the aim of finding solutions.