-agri minister tells Barama

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud urged Barama to “stamp out unregulated acts of mining” during a recent visit to the company’s Buckhall, Essequibo facility.
According to a Government Information Agency press release Persaud said Barama should help to address the issue since it has serious repercussions on the environment. He added too that the company has over the years addressed various challenges in “full compliance” with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) regulations. Persaud said too the country has reaped benefits from collaborations with the company such as the building of roads and improving social infrastructure.
Meanwhile Mohendra Chand, a forestry official attached to Barama said the company has been challenged by adverse weather patterns, high building and maintenance costs, the lack of skilled labour and visa renewals, among other issues. He said too it is engaged in rethinking new strategies, becoming more adaptive and maximizing and sustaining the reserve among other measures.

In discussing expanding the housing scheme for the company Persaud said that the religious organisation which owns the land can be approached. He added that the issue of visa renewals for expatriates is a matter for the Ministry of Home Affairs to address but as long as 15% of the staff are expatriates there should not be any delays. He also urged the company to ensure that its standards are compatible with GFC standards and cautioned the GFC staff to deal appropriately with any official in breach of regulations.