THERE is no room for “bullies and opportunists” in syndicates, representatives from more than eight mining syndicates from across the country said as they joined forces with Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes to send a strong message to the Konawaruk Mining Syndicate.

The Natural Resources Ministry has been flooded with reports from legitimate members of the Konawaruk Mining Syndicate about acts of bullyism and intrusion from outsiders and persons with bad intentions. Reports also indicate that these “intruders” have been raiding mining lands long before the Konawaruk Syndicate was even formed, and are now attempting to take over the syndicate for personal gains.

On Monday during a meeting convened at the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Kingston Office, Minister Broomes made it clear that all “will toe the line” – a view endorsed by the elected leaders of the more than eight syndicates that were present at the meeting.
“The syndicate initiative, like we all know, was designed to create opportunities for small miners. It is not for opportunists,” Minister Broomes said sternly while making it clear that there is no place for inequality, landlordism, raiding and trafficking.

Minister Broomes noted that syndicates were provided for in the Mining Act and said Government has allowed for established syndicates to submit their applications to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for mining blocks. Government, she said, went one step further, and granted permission for eligible syndicates to start working on lands approved by GGMC even as the paperwork is being processed.

As the syndicates take necessary steps to form themselves into coops, in the interim it was agreed that elections would be held every year at the level of each syndicate before the National Syndicate holds its elections.

It was noted that Kirk Lymerick was seconded from GGMC to the Natural Resources Ministry to assist the syndicates, and while he has been doing an exceptional job in facilitating elections for at least 12 of the 16 syndicates, he is encountering difficulties with respect to the Konawaruk Mining Syndicate.

Minister Broomes reported that elections for that syndicate came to an abrupt end on two occasions following disruptions and disorderly behaviour by those attempting to take over the group for personal gains. Such actions, the junior Natural Resources Minister said, will not be tolerated.

“You have to get your house in order and you will toe the line. You will toe the line. It is as simple as that,” she made clear.

Carol Fredericks from the Karrau Mining Syndicate said laws and rules must be respected.
“We are having some people rising up like Jumbie umbrella, and just want to force themselves in and do as they feel…We as members of the syndicate will not allow that to happen, so all those persons who are out there, if you want to join the syndicate there are ways and means of doing that…But we will not sit back and allow people to be disrespectful… and if you cannot follow the rules, there is no place for you,” Fredericks said.
Roy Kingston echoed similar sentiments. “Among our people, there are those who still believe in breaking law to get by, and the syndicate initiative, the kind of discipline is required, it is kind of difficult for some people to comply but what we have to do as members, is, as those instances raise its ugly head, we have to come together to resist,” he said.

Kingston said all members should be responsible in their actions. Chairman of the Parika/Mora Syndicate, Michael Jones, while expressing gratitude to Minister Broomes and Lymerick for their unwavering support to the syndicates, said some people have failed to see the vision.

“Unfortunately, there are people who are selfish, some of them don’t even see the vision, all they see is an opportunity,” he said while noting that through the syndicates, the voices of small miners are being heard even more.
“We as syndicates should work together, support each other, it is not about one winning over the other, it is not about that,” Jones said.

Kempton Wade, Aubrey Francis and Dana Jones were among the other representatives that spoke out against the attempts being made to stymie the work of the Konawaruk Mining Syndicate.
Mineral Blast Mining, Gold Search Investment, Parika/Mora, Central Mahdia, Berbice Mining Syndicate, Imbaimadai Mining Syndicate, and Karrau Syndicate were among the syndicates represented at the meeting.

Despite the hiccups, the syndicates, following discussions with Lymerick, have agreed to hold the elections for the National Mining Syndicate on Thursday March 1, 2018. All syndicates will be represented at the national level.