— Cheryl Williams promises to raise funds to assist miners, address deplorable roads

NEWLY elected President of the National Mining Syndicate, (NMS) Cheryl Williams, said the absence of roads necessary to access mining blocks in the mining districts is among issues the national body will be pushing government to address.

Williams, a miner for 28 years, was elected president of the National Mining Syndicate last Thursday when the national body held its second election at the Girl Guides Pavilion located on Brickdam, Georgetown.
Williams, who hails from the mining town of Bartica, replaces former NMS president Renwick Solomon, who served in that capacity for one year.

Her team comprises Troy Duncan as vice-president, Secretary Carol Nurse, Assistant Secretary Dana Jones, Treasurer Michael Bacchus and Assistant Treasurer Carol Fredericks.
Additionally, seven persons were elected to serve on the new executive committee.
President Renwick Solomon congratulated Williams and committed to supporting her as the new executive leads the mining syndicate, which was established last year.

Elated to become the first female president of the National Mining Syndicate, Williams said she understands that her role is not to be taken lightly, acknowledging that much work has to be done to address the issues facing members.
The National Mining Syndicate comprises 16 smaller syndicates from different parts of the country.

“Much has to be done and I am up for the challenge,” said Williams, who thanked the past president and the committee members for their work in 2017.
“This new executive promise to continue working towards the ‘good life’,” she said, shortly after being elected president.
On Saturday, she told the Guyana Chronicle that her vision is for all mining syndicates to fulfil their full potential.

“My vision is to have the national syndicate function in its full capacity, and for the member syndicates to develop to their fullest,” she said.
However, Williams said for syndicates to achieve their goals, several critical issues ought to be addressed.

She explained that while some syndicates can access their mining blocks as approved by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), others are being faced with roads that are impassable and as such, access to their mining blocks have become difficult. According to her, in other cases there are no roads.

Added to that, the NMS president said while some syndicates such as Mineral Blast, have completed their prospecting and will soon commence mining for gold in their initial two blocks, others are experiencing difficulties because of the lack of finance and equipment.

Each syndicate is mandated to pay two per cent of their earnings to the National Syndicate, which in turn is used for the benefit of all, but with many of them still at the prospecting stage, Williams said fund-raising activities will he held to provide the necessary relief.