Dear Editor,
Permit me to respond to the Editorial entitled “The plight of Arau” in the Daily Stabroek News of Monday, August 4, 2008.

Your editorial charges that, “Particularly troubling from a regulator perspective was the fact that the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) sent in someone to investigate some of the claims that had been made by persons living in the area at the same time that the SN reporter visited but the ensuing report was unresponsive to the main concerns. The report for the GGMC failed to adequately address the damage that had been done and the urgency of swift action”.

At Arau, there are three locations where mining is being conducted within proximity of the Arau Amerindian Village, namely Arau Top, Arau Bottom, and Wenamu River. GGMC wishes to emphatically state that there are no mining properties within the boundaries of the titled area of Arau. Further, GGMC has stopped holders of mining properties which are outside of the titled area from conducting any operation that would affect the farms or the community or pollute the waters.

It is pertinent to note that the GGMC has a Community Mines Ranger who is from the village of Kaikan and is based there. This ranger makes visits to Arau.  Note  that a ranger is a person nominated by the Amerindian community, who is employed and trained by the GGMC to inspect and report on matters affecting the Amerindian community. There are fourteen (14) such Community Mines Rangers.

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Besides routine monitoring of the mining district by the Community Mines Ranger and the Mines/ Environmental Officers, officers of the GGMC visit communities to investigate specific complaints made to the Commission. To date, for  this year four (4) such additional visits have been made to Arau in February, March, May and June respectively, to investigate complaints and for  matters pertaining to a pending  court matter. It was found that Arau residents operate dredges within the titled/village areas and it is their tailings which affect the lower Arau river. GGMC has advised them about better mining practices and warned of prosecution if they persist. The main stop-offs/ Breach of the Mining/ Environment regulations, citations or cease work orders (CWO’s) were immediately issued, a function which a Mines/Environmental Officer is permitted and required to perform. Reports on each visit to the location were submitted by the respective Investigating Officers and appropriate further actions were taken.

It is believed that it is one of these reports to which you refer. Please be informed that this report is an investigative report and is not evidence of any consequent actions which the GGMC may undertake against persons in breach of the Mining and Environmental Regulations of the Mining Act No. 20 of 1989. Thus it would not be accurate to determine that  GGMC failed to adequately address “the damage” that had been done and the Commission endeavours to address these breaches swiftly, it is dependent upon other support systems which may not in the view of some persons work as quickly as desired. Breaches of some of the regulations require that criminal charges be instituted and as such when the charges are proffered, the Commission has to await the normal court procedure process.

One should note that the mining industry is striving to operate with higher standards, and practices which were tolerated years ago are no longer acceptable, such as for example practices which pollute the environment. As a consequence GGMC has sought to first promulgate legislation to deal with these issues, educate the mining community on acceptable best practices, and enforce the legislation where there are breaches thereof.

In conclusion, the Commission wishes to reiterate that it has always sought to address concerns of Amerindian Villages Councils diligently and in accordance with the law. It further seeks to ensure that miners comply with requirements under the Amerindian Act No. 6 of 2006. It is regrettable that representations are being made that the GGMC is not seeking to address the problems experienced by Amerindian Villages within mining industry. Notwithstanding, the GGMC remains committed to regulating the mining industry in an efficient manner, and to ensuring that sound environmental practices are conducted in all phases of the mining industry.
Yours faithfully,
William Woolford
Commissioner (ag)
Guyana Geology and Mines Commission