THE ‘illegal’ operation of a water dredge in Parabara Village in the South Rupununi, remains a major problem, the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) said on Thursday.

According to the council, the machine called the ‘dragga’ remains in the village though the Government has issued a number of orders, instructing its removal. In a statement on Thursday, SRDC explained that in December of 2018, it informed the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) that it was concerned that the dragga was being constructed in the Village of Parabara. “At the time, the SRDC demanded that the dragga be dismantled, but the GGMC cited a lack of authority to act unless the dragga began to operate,” the district council explained. It noted that since then, the dragga has been built and has begun to move down the river. “We are deeply concerned that it will imminently begin river mining operations in our territory, given the amount of fuel that has just been carried down for it,” the district council said.

The SRDC said it is cognizant and appreciative of the efforts the Government in resolving the issue but said the dragga remains in the area nonetheless. In May 2019, Cabinet reportedly took a decision to refuse permission for the dragga to operate. “Major General Joseph Singh informed us that H.E. President Granger has declared that this Government shall enforce the order issued in 2008 and not allow any mining in the tributaries of the Essequibo River south of the 4th Parallel. In June 2019, the GGMC issued an Order to Remove the dragga by June 14, 2019,” the district council detailed. It added that the Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman subsequently committed to the protection of important headwaters in the South Rupununi.

“It is thus with the gravest concern that we report that in spite of these orders and decisions, the dragga has yet to be removed. A 14-inch cutterhead dredge could only be built with one purpose – to engage in river mining which contravenes a government order and Cabinet decision. The SRDC urges the GGMC and MNR to take immediate action, including forfeiture and seizure, which is authorized under the Mining Act, Sections 100-103,” the district council pleaded.

It added: “Immediate enforcement action must be taken to enforce the decisions and orders of the government as well as to ensure the government’s commitment to the protection of important headwaters in the South Rupununi.”

The district council said on September 8, 2019 it was informed that the dragga moved further down along the river with a pontoon carrying almost 400 drums of fuel for the operations of the dragga. A monitoring team sent to the area confirmed that the dragga had moved further down river.

“The reports of our monitoring team indicate that the dragga operator is openly defying the order of a GGMC officer, a 2008 governmental order, and a decision of Cabinet. The SRDC therefore urgently demands that the GGMC and other relevant government agencies take immediate and appropriate actions to address this extremely alarming situation and to enforce its own laws, orders, and commitments,” it said.

Reminding that the Government signed the “Leticia Pact For The Amazon Region” on September 6, 2019, the South Rupununi District Council underscored the importance of safeguarding the environment.

“The South Rupununi communities have committed to contribute to the protection of our sacred Amazonian forests, a part of which forms Wapichan traditional lands. These very lands are the source of fresh water that feeds into our mighty Essequibo and supports extremely fragile ecosystems. In a time when other parts of the Amazon are being destroyed on a scale of apocalyptic proportions, Guyana has a chance to step up and lead the way on helping the world heal its ecological scars,” it said.

The district council said it will continue to work with the GGMC, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the environment.