…as indigenous association reneges on agreement

THE Ministry of Natural Resources is maintaining that any deviation from the mediated agreement, signed onto by Romanex Mining Company, the Rupununi Miners Associated, eight Toshaos from South Rupununi and the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWO) on the Marudi Mountain Area, could result in chaos.

In April 2016, the Government through Minister Raphael Trotman intervened in a standoff between small miners from the Marudi Mountain area, representatives of indigenous communities and Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited, and facilitated a historic mediation process with the help of Major-General (retired) Joe Singh. The successful mediation resulted in all parties signing the ‘Mediation of the Marudi Mountain Mining Dispute Agreement’ that would guide future engagements to finalise a solution.

But after reaching the agreement in 2016, the South Rupununi Indigenous Communities, represented by the Toshaos, are now calling for mining in the Marudi Mountain Area to come to an end. Romanex Mining Company is currently operating within the area and in 2016 had called for the removal of a number of persons from an illegal landing. The occupants were removed from the landing, which was also considered illegal by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

However, the Commission in keeping with a promise made by the Natural Resources Ministry earmarked several blocks of mining lands for miners who are part of the South Rupununi Miners’ Association and former occupiers of Romanex Mining lands in Marudi, Region Nine.
A block was also set aside for GWO members. The announcement was made in January 2018.

The allocation was in response to the difficulties that were faced by a number of small miners after they were required to vacate the Romanex property. The Ministry had assured that it was committed to working with the GGMC to find a long-term solution that would see the miners enjoy the use and benefits of their own concessions.
However, during a meeting with the Natural Resources Ministry last week, new demands were placed on the table, Director of Compliance, Derrick Lawrence told reporters on Monday.

Representatives from Romanex Mining Company, the Rupununi Miners Associated and two Toshaos from South Rupununi met with the Natural Resources Ministry Director of Compliance and Technical Officer – Mining, Euliene Watson, last week.
Lawrence said the ministry is disappointed that the signatories to the 2016 agreement with the exception of the GWO are now reneging on the settlement which was intended to guide mining operations in Marudi Mountain Area in Region Nine.

“The Ministry is of the view that Romanex can do more to accommodate the small miners. The Rupununi Miners Association should abide with the mediated agreement and take up the lands set aside for them as agreed and the South Rupununi Indigenous Communities ought not to be bringing any new positions after the agreement was inked, such as their position that there should be no mining in the areas at all,” the Director of Compliance said.

According to Lawrence, it appears that persons are attempting to derail the mediation agreement because of the resources present in the area.
“This deviation seems driven by knowledge of the quantity of resources in the area,” he opined while giving the Ministry’s assurance that the resources in the area are enough to provide for all the parties engaged, if good sense prevails.

The Natural Resources Ministry remains firm in the view that the mediation is the best and only way forward on resolving the issue. “Anything else could lead to anarchy, chaos, the disintegration of order or at best, a lengthy court battle from which no one benefits,” the Director of Compliance warned.

He said the ministry – and the government by extension – is urging all parties to conform to process and to exercise good faith, including having a willingness to reach agreement through better understanding of each other’s positions, and compromise.