Despite naysayers, small miners in every nook and cranny are mobilizing themselves into mining syndicates as they seek to empower themselves by capitalizing on the opportunities created by Government in the Extractive Industry.

Arthur Thorne, Chairman of the Parika/Mora Small Miners Association, said residents of Parika and Mora had long sought to capitalize on the Extractive Sector but their application as a group was turned down in 2013.

“We had applied for 15 Blocks and they rejected our application,” Thorne told a room full of small and potential miners during a meeting with the Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, at her Brickdam Office on Friday.
He added “thanks to Minister Broomes and the APNU+AFC Coalition, the syndicate was now on the go,” some four years after. With a sense of accomplishment, Thorne informed those present that the Parika/Mora Mining Association/Syndicate has a written constitution in place, and is in the process of finalizing its application for 15 Blocks of mining lands in the Puruni Backdam. Already, more than 100 small miners have signed up to be a part of that syndicate.

Wallis Daniels, who hails from Imbaimadai – a mining community situated in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni District, said residents there are forging ahead with plans to establish a syndicate with constant meetings being held. According to him, there are over 230 interested residents of which 54 regularly attend meetings. That syndicate is applying for mining lands in places such as Chi-Chi in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni District.
“Four years ago, Imbaimadai use to have eight flights a day, now we are getting four and five flights a week. We had about 30 shops, now we only have four shops and more than half the buildings are empty,” Daniels said as he painted a picture of the current economic situation in the mining community.

However, he strongly believes that once the syndicate goes into operation Imbaimadai will return to its glory days.
Another miner, Judith David-Blair, who is the President of the Karrau Mining Syndicate, said Minister Broomes and by extension the Government ought to be applauded for reaching out to the small miners who have been suffering for far too long, although they have been the back bone of the industry.

For her, the formation of syndicates across the country, signals the re-birth of the Gold Mining Industry and the creation of equal opportunities for all miners.
“This is the time when we will take our place; this is the time when we will adhere to every rule, every law, we will comply with everything that we are supposed to do,” David-Blair said.
She, like many of the miners present, said while the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is objecting to the new tax regime being implemented by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the syndicates stand ready to pay their taxes.

Due to the overwhelming response by miners, Garfield Wilt, who is a part of the Kanawaruk Mining Syndicate, suggested that a National Steering Committee be formed to manage all syndicates – a proposal which was well received. Wilt explained that through the steering committee the syndicates could make representation to the Central Government on behalf of all involved in the movement.
Representatives of syndicates from Bartica, Mahdia, Linden, Berbice, Georgetown and the East Coast of Demerara were also present, among others.

Minister Broomes, in addressing the small and potential miners, said Government’s decision to launch the National Syndicate Project, was not done on the basis of a political gimmick but an initiative designed to empower small miners in particular.
“This project is about government delivering to its people. It’s about creating that good life,” she told the miners. Once tax compliant, the Minister noted that the similar concessions offered to GGMDA and larger miners, will be made available to the syndicates.

However, Minister Broomes warned that while Government through the Natural Resources Ministry, is making special provisions for syndicates, the laws governing the sector will not be compromised, noting that major emphasis is also being transparency and accountability.
“You have to abide by the rules and regulations, you have to put safety first and you must pay attention to the environment. It cannot be business as usual, you must be the pace setters,” the Minister urged. She made it clear that acts of human trafficking, child labour and disorderly conducts will not be tolerated.

In addition to discussing the various components of the syndicate projects, the miners used the opportunity to express a number of other concerns relating to the need for better roads and bridges. In response, Minister Broomes said the Natural Resources Ministry and GGMC have taken note of the concerns, and have already consulted with the Public Infrastructure Ministry.