WITH the aim of strengthening compliance in the natural resources sector, the Ministry of Natural Resources, on Wednesday, commissioned its first Corps of Wardens Station at Dagg Point, Bartica.

Among those in attendance, were the Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Raphael Trotman, Director of Compliance Mr. Derick Lawrence, regional officials, the Corps of Wardens, and senior MNR staff.

The Station, officially named ‘Black Caiman’, stands as the first of its kind and will dispatch Warden patrols into the natural resources sector, the MNR stated in a press release.
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, gave the feature address. It was Minister Trotman who established the Corps of Wardens in 2017 following a mandate by President David Granger in 2016 to create a group of trained and equipped officers who will ensure the protection and preservation of Guyana’s natural resources, by strengthening compliance monitoring and enforcement capabilities.

Minister Trotman, in his remarks, noted that it is with pride and pleasure that he was congratulating Mr. Lawrence and the Corps or Wardens on the achievement. He went on to say that the purpose of the station, and the others to come, was to serve and protect and it was quite fitting that the station was being opened in Bartica, given that the town was known as the gateway into the interior.

The Minister went on to say that the Black Caiman station was a tangible expression of the vision of President David Granger and urged that the station set the standard for guarding Guyana’s natural resources and maintain a high level of integrity.

Giving an overview of the ‘Black Caiman’ was Mr. Derick Lawrence who stated that the station had been built to accommodate 16 Wardens who will be deployed in the area to carry out their duties in the natural resources sector, fearlessly, and with honour.
Regional Chairman of Region #7, Mr. Gordon Bradford, noted that the station was greatly appreciative, given that Bartica had suffered from illegal activities in the sector. However, he said that he expected the highest standard from the performance of the Corps and gave his commitment to working with them.

The Corps of Wardens is mandated to support, through enforcement, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Forestry Commission, which are regulative agencies that operate in the sector. Two other warden stations are said to be in the pipeline – at Omai and Aranka.