THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is calling on miners to respect the measures put in place by village councils to protect its residents from exposure to the coronavirus.

While noting that mining, an essential industry, must continue to function, the GGDMA said that it shares the concerns of the villages, through which miners must traverse, and urges all miners to take full precautions to ensure that they minimise exposure and interaction with local residents.

Recently the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) noted that miners have disregarded the measures put in place at villages under its umbrella, noting that it is particularly worried about the continuous influx of miners into the villages while en route to the Wakadanao and Marudi gold mines, and that business people from Georgetown are also adding to the issue. “We find this to be disrespectful and a violation of our right to safeguard the well-being and health of our people. We are very concerned that persons coming in can bring undetected cases of the coronavirus into the mining areas, which can then spread into our villages,” the SRDC said.

The GGDMA called on miners to swiftly traverse through the villages while following the relevant health safety guidelines set out by the authorities.

“We urge miners to traverse swiftly and safely through the villages and minimise the length of time they spend in areas in which they are not working. The GGDMA calls on miners to follow all the health and safety guidelines as set out by the Ministry of Health and to work with the various village Toshaos to help maintain safety. The GGDMA also calls on the regional authority and the border authorities to ramp up enforcement to prevent illegal border crossings,” the mining body said.

The GGDMA said that, at this time, when Guyana needs all the economic help it can get, mining provides valuable jobs, and, as such, has been recognised as an essential service.
“We welcome the assistance and support of the Region 9 Chairman in helping our members to continue to provide this lifeline for Guyana’s economy. The GGDMA stands in support of the miners who live and work in the various villages in the Rupununi and we urge all stakeholders to recognise the importance of mining,” the body said.

It said that it supports the right of the villages to put in additional control measures to prevent illegal operators from breaching the rules of social distancing and quarantine, and from unnecessary interaction with village populations. However, it noted that local miners who have the necessary permits and clearances should not be hindered from pursuing a livelihood.

Guyanese miners, like other citizens, have a right to work and pursue a livelihood, the GGDMA said. “Even in the current pandemic, miners have continued to work to ensure that mining and the many support industries continue to survive,” the body said.

The GGDMA said that mining continues to operate within the guidelines and laws as set out by the Ministry of Health and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. It noted that miners remain compliant and call on all stakeholders to cooperate. “We are in this together and must work to support each other if we want to get out safely, and even as we learn to live within the pandemic,” the body said.

On Monday last, a Guyanese man with Brazilian citizenship tested positive for the coronavirus, the first confirmed case in the Rupununi. “The confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in Lethem, Region 9, on May 11, underscores the urgency and necessity of the measures our villages have put in place,” the SRDC said on Saturday.

Sources say that the man reportedly travelled across SRDC territory to and from the Marudi mines, making stops within several villages along the way. “This case reveals how easy it is for the coronavirus to enter our communities, and why we sent an urgent request on April 14 and 21 that the Government halt mining in the South Rupununi,” the village councils said.

It was noted by the SRDC that, with the participation of village councils, it has been working “hard to protect our people during this global public health crisis.”
It said that this is being undertaken by ensuring that residents have updated, accurate information regarding the pandemic; and that 15 illegal border crossings have been blocked, and monitoring checkpoints and gates into Wapichan territory have been established.