Nineteen mining blocks in various parts of the country were yesterday awarded by the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission.   These blocks were awarded through a lottery which was held at the Girl Guides Pavilion on Brickdam.

According to Kampta Persaud, the Manager of the Geological Services, only nineteen people had applied and all were successful in their bids. He explained that only individuals with less than five medium scale permits or small scale permits who owned mining equipment were allowed to apply.

Persaud said that in recent times many people interested in mining have complained about not having access to land. He explained that the  available blocks were acquired from miners who had failed to fulfill the financial obligations they had to the Geology & Mines Commission and  which were subsequently repossessed.  The size of these blocks range from 150 to 1,200 acres.