…claim GGMC officials destroy, seize equipment

RESIDENTS of Mahdia on Wednesday continued a second day of protest action outside the office of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) as they called for the return of equipment which was seized by the authorities in recent days.

Shouts of “Ah want meh engine”, “2020 I ain’t voting” and “We need we engine to feed we children” were among the many shouts which residents shouted as they gathered outside the offices of the GGMC on Wednesday.

Reports are that the situation escalated on Tuesday of this week after GGMC officials shut down the mining operations of several miners in the area. Residents claimed that several pieces of equipment, including sluice boxes, were either destroyed or seized by the authorities and they noted too that the officers who were accompanied by armed police ranks, moved in without notice.

The Ministry of Natural Resources stated that over the weekend, in continued efforts to address the issue of fatal mining incidents, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, on Saturday visited Mahdia and received updates on the town’s ongoing enforcement operation.

According to the ministry, the operation which was ordered by the subject minister last Tuesday, serves to address mines safety, improve mining practices and curb the practice of illegal mining overall.” It comes as illegal and unsafe mining practices continue to result in fatal accidents in the mining areas of Guyana,” the entity said.

GGMC acting mines manager, Krishna Ramdass, said that the operation began on Friday last and has seen the deployment of a team comprising five (5) Ministry Compliance Division’s Corp of wardens along with twelve (12) GGMC officers.

Ramdass went on to highlight that the enforcement operation has to date identified mining operations that do not conform to safety, issued cease work orders, and has even completely removed some operations from the environment.

Minister Trotman, while addressing the miners, encouraged them to allow the smooth flow of the operation, ensuring that their documents are in order so as to avoid issues with the process. He briefed them on the process and further encouraged them to practise legal and safe mining practices.

The enforcement operation in Mahdia is expected to last eight (8) days, the ministry said, as it noted that enforcement operations are being launched in other mining districts. On Wednesday, Marbel Thomas, Toshao of the nearby village of Campbelltown and who was on the protest line, told journalist Travis Chase that the issue is one of “survival” as she noted that Mahdia and communities nearby depend on mining for development as well as for the well-being of residents. She said the group is willing to listen to the GGMC as regards the move by the mining body.

At next month’s Local Government Elections (LGEs), residents of Mahdia will head to the polls at elections which will see the town’s first mayor and town council being formed.