Gov’t drops charges against illegal Kaieteur miners
Some of the protestors standing in solidarity with the 21 Chenapao residents who were arrested on Sunday
Some of the protestors standing in solidarity with the 21 Chenapao residents who were arrested on Sunday

Following meetings between Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, officials of the Ministry of National Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), it has been decided that as an act of good faith Government will not prosecute the charges against the more than 20 persons arrested on Sunday May 28, 2017 for mining within the iconic Kaieteur National Park.

This was announced in release issued by the Ministry on Friday, which stated that the Park has been designated a Protected Area and will remain off limits to mining, forest-harvesting and other related activities. Further, it has been determined that the pre-1999 boundaries for the Kaieteur National Park will not be restored as some have advocated.

The Toshao, Mr. Edward Mc Garrell, and some members of the community of Chenapau in Region 8, Potaro-Siparuni, together with representatives of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) and the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), met on June 1, 2017 at the invitation of the Minister of Natural Resources to voice their concerns, the release noted.

“At this meeting, Minister Trotman committed to raising the concerns of the residents with His Excellency President David Granger, President of Guyana, which was subsequently done.”

It was further noted that while the Ministry of Natural Resources remains firm in its mandate to protect the national patrimony for future generations, it is not insensitive to the needs of communities, and therefore, the Ministry along with other Government entities, is prepared to work with the Chenapau and other communities to identify opportunities for benefit-sharing and sustainable livelihoods in the ongoing conservation efforts for the Kaieteur National Park and other protected areas.

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