FOLLOWING a confrontation in which their village leader was physically assaulted, residents of the Region Eight village of Micobie are calling on the authorities to curb “illegal” miners in the area.
According to reports, during the last week of March, several water dredges, one of which is commonly referred to as a “dragga,” were seen along the Potaro River. The waterway passes through the indigenous community.

Reports are that Toshao, John Andre and several councillors of the village travelled to an area where the dredges were operating. The miners, who were working on the village lands, complied with orders from the village councillors to remove from the area; however, one operator remained in the area. According to a councillor, the operator appeared upset when he was informed by the village council that the dredge was working ”illegally” on the village lands . Two weeks ago, the Toshao led a team to the area and informed the general manager of the operation to desist from mining on the village lands.

The manager became infuriated when the village councillors boarded the “dragga” and informed him that he should remove the machine from the area. Reports are that the man and his employees verbally abused the village leader and the village councillors, using expletives.
According to a resident, the manager rose from his seat and attempted to push the village captain and the two scrambled as other miners and village councillors tried to calm the situation. Several photographs of the confrontation were posted on social media recently and according to residents, the officers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) appeared to be colluding with the “illegal” miners, since the officers are aware of the situation on the ground.

Toshao Andre told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that it is the duty of the council to check all mining operations in the area. “They are wrong all over, and it has been going on for years”, Andre said. He said that he reported the incident to the GGMC office at Mahdia, but he was not optimistic that the situation will be addressed.
For years, miners and village councils in indigenous communities have clashed over mining on village lands. Last January during an outreach by a team led by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, Andre had highlighted the issue . He lamented that most of his community’s titled lands have been issued to miners. The minister informed Toshao Andre that the law states that no mining could take place on their land without the Toshao and the Village Council’s permission.