–says many families depend on it

THE Guyana Metal Recyclers Association (GMRA) has expressed its discomfort with the government’s response to the reopening of the country’s scrap metal trade which was closed six months ago.
GMRA General Secretary, Stephen Bourne, said the government has pushed the association to the sideline and has treated them “like scrap”.
Noting that the association is calling on President Dr. Irfaan Ali to lift the ban on the scrap metal trade, he said the situation has negatively affected the citizens who depend on the trade to sustain themselves and their families.
The government decided to halt the scrap-metal trade until there is policy reform to properly monitor the sector. This decision was taken in the aftermath of a massive drug “bust” when cocaine was found in a container of scrap metal which was shipped from Guyana to Belgium in November 2021.
Local shipper Marlon Primo was considered the main suspect in the smuggling of 11.5 tonnes of cocaine that left Guyana undetected. The cocaine was later intercepted in Belgium.

Bourne noted that since the ban was implemented in September 2020, several consultation sessions were held with Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; Minister of Tourism, Industry and commerce, Oneidge Waldron, and the Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh. However, there has been no positive assurances regarding the reopening of the sector.
Bourne stated that following a consultation session with the Head of CANU, and Deputy Commissioner of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rohan Beekhoo, on February 16, 2021, it was indicated that a phased reopening of the scrap metal trade is most likely to commence after an improved scanner is installed. Since then, no information has reached the GMRA for the reopening.
“We don’t want to wait, we can’t wait, we can’t afford to wait. We can’t wait while every other export continues and we are not allowed to export. That is our situation. People are depending on their trade to be able to make a living,” said Bourne.
Bourne reminded that while the association has just 23 exporters, other persons in the scrap metal business are affected by the ban. These include scrap metal connectors and dealers who provide the traders with the metal for export.

BADLY AFFECTED
Mahendra Emrit, owner of Mahendra Recycling Scrap Metal Inc., said that he is pleading with the government to be considerate of persons who have no other means of earning, especially during the pandemic, and to lift the ban on the scrap metal trade. He reminded that many of the persons including himself have expenses that are difficult for them to pay without any stable income.
“I have been affected tremendously because I have workers to pay; I have rent to pay; I have instalment to pay– a mortgage at the bank, and everything, and when they do that to us, we are left stranded because they shut the trade and didn’t notify we. This is going on to six months closure now. In September, 2020, they tell we two weeks,” said Emrit. He noted that while the authorities have noted that the reason for the ban on the scrap metal trade is due to the recent drug bust, several other export sectors have seen similar operations but have not been closed down. Emrit suggested that the government deals with the person or persons that are dealing with illegal substances instead of punishing the entire scrap metal sector.
“Nothing more we get fuh do. This we depend on, this is we livelihood. The government said they would create jobs for people but they take away jobs from us, funds are very low and we need it.

If they can open the trade as soon as possible, we would be appreciative of it. Other sectors aren’t being closed down for one or two persons exporting illegal substances,” Emrit expressed. Meanwhile, Anniet Brummell, who has been a scrap metal collector for over six years, shared similar sentiments. She explained that scrap metal collection has been her only source of income for several years and that the sudden ban on the trade has put a significant strain on her finances.
“I’m a single parent of three children and it’s been really affecting me because I’m not doing anything right now and it’s really hard. It’s been something I’ve been doing for a number of years and it has been helping me to sustain my family, but it was suddenly closed, so I’m left here wondering what to do,” Brummell said.
She added that since the sudden closure of the trade, many collectors have been left with the material they would have previously collected.
The woman said she has been receiving negative comments from her neighbours regarding the pile of scrap metal that has been in front of her yard for over six months.