…Broomes says miners now have a voice

JUNIOR Minister of Natural Resources Simona Broomes says that under the coalition government, small miners in the extractive sector have been given a voice as they are being included in decisions regarding their protection, training and financial benefit.

Addressing the National Assembly on Thursday during the continuation of the 2019 budget debates, Broomes said: “From the outset the extractive industry was in a mess. Between miners of themselves, Mr. Speaker, [there was] the exploitation of women, men, big miners, small miners, it was all over the place [there was] no level of transparency.

“But Mr. Speaker, where we’re at now, is that all these miners have come together and are negotiating with government and even formed themselves into a group called ‘the MOB’. That is to show where the sector was, where it is at now and where it is headed.”

The National Mining Syndicates; the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) are whom Brooms said now have seats on the decision-making board for the very first time.
Broomes said that while the opposition wishes to speak about the concessions that were available to miners under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), what is left out is that in fact they were also largely exploited in the process. She stated that miners had to make payments at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Natural resources.

“The amount of money you had to spend because those were the days of corruption and bribe. It was more than the taxes that you would have had to pay!” she enlightened.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Pauline Sukhai in addressing the ministry had also contested: “We have seen the heavy stick being used by the regulating commission, Mr. Speaker, Miners in Mahdia need to see the government or the commission as a body and as a government that wants to help them…investments to ensure that small miners are allowed to be empowered, that there is more sensitisation carried out, because these small miners cannot afford to do it one their own.”

When Broomes stood up to speak, she went against the notion that miners are being left to fend for themselves highlighting the active role of the syndicate initiative and the presence of two syndicates for small miners in Mahdia alone.

Transparency
“Transparency is what this government is all about. We’re happy Mr. Speaker that where we were, where small miners were punishing, today they have a voice. They are mobilised, the government is working with them, we will continue to work with them, they’ve benefitted from every single thing in the sector. Transparency is what you call that,” she affirmed.

Prior to Broomes’ address, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had objected that with Budget 2019 added to the other four budgets of the coalition, it would bring the total expenditure to 1.3 trillion dollars.

Sticking a pin, she questioned what it is that the country has benefitted from during this period of time and with the accumulated amount.

“Where is the proof of the pudding? Where do we see the progress? Where are the big transformation projects? Where is it that we can say as Guyanese that we are going somewhere that the country is moving forward?” she asked.
In a candid response, Broomes said: “We are not running, we’re trying to clean up your corruption. For 23 years this opposition is coming to the house…I’m no economist but how can you measure 23 with 3?”

She later continued: “Where we were when we came in, in terms of our natural resources and our minerals, Mr. Speaker we were nowhere. In fact, there were ?exploration projects that were done, billions expended but you know what, when we took office the information was missing…now in the 21st century it is this government that is looking at our natural resources to know where the minerals are, the quantities and to have information. We are talking transparency!”
She said this as she added that by 2020 Guyana would be able to tell where all its minerals lie in country. During her presentation, Broomes openly pointed out that it has been observed that some of the regulations and acts guiding the ministry possess loopholes and in 2019 several of these will be up for review.

Gold Board
She stated: “In the new year the ministry will be looking at a full review of all these acts, the Mining Regulation; the Gold Board Act and we’ll be looking at forestry to see how we can better manage the extractive sector and to look at these loopholes so that, in terms of transparency and better governance, we have it from the end of our acts and policies.”

Coming too will be the restructuring the commission to further improve service provision. Regarding the environment, Broomes said that while the ministry will be looking into the phasing out of mercury, the “big stick approach” will not be taken as government will instead be working with miners to provide alternative extraction options and training.

There will also be the reclamation of mining pits, which the junior minister said were left hollow and spotted all about the county when the coalition took office. “There were big open pits all over from bauxite to mining, all over the place. Sand, loom, quarry all over the place! Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will be looking at land reclamation and revegetation.

“Mr. Speaker we’re not only looking at it from the miner’s standpoint but the communities in which mining is taking place next to them. We’ll be looking at nurseries; working with women; working with youths in these communities; the planting of trees and they will be part of this process so that we can ensure that after mining the land the livelihoods of our people is well protected,” she said.
Other projects for 2019 include $1B allocated for new roads in the extractive sector; a new Puruni bridge and the construction of a health post at the Puruni Landing among others.

Speaking on safety, Broomes continued: “On the day of His Excellency’s swearing in, Mr. Speaker, there was a pit cave in, ten persons died. Ten persons died. Mr. Speaker, in my 30 years in that sector I have seen and witnessed firsthand pit cave-ins but, Mr. Speaker, it was never addressed. I want to say to all Mr. Speaker that with the matter of safety, we’re looking at prevention. One death is one too many.”

She also noted that under the ministry, deforestation this year stands at the lowest since the Norway Partnership Agreement and there is a reduction of the deficit the ministry inherited. She stated: “It is this government that brings governance to the ground. I want to put in notice that the opposition will remain opposition because this government, we are ready! We are mobilised and we are in order!”