-raise questions about low carbon strategy
The influx of illegal Brazilian miners in parts of the Hinterland and the manner in which they conduct their operations is of major concern to some stakeholders in the local mining industry.
This was among the issues discussed at the 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) yesterday, where a few persons who have been in the mining industry for a number of years noted that the authorities, namely the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs need to get their acts together where foreigners working illegally in Guyana is concerned.
Outgoing President of the GGDMA, Afro Alfonso, told the gathering that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the GGMC need to do more work in determining how many Brazilians may be working legally in Guyana. He compared the situation with the treatment of Guyanese in Barbados noting that Guyanese are turned back in a quick manner by immigration authorities there. Alfonso said that in 2008, there were some 271 licenced dredges registered with the GGMC but noted that there are approximately 9,000 dredges currently in operation in the mining industry, some of which are being operated by the Brazilians.
Another miner, Stanislaus Jardine said that the issue of the foreigners working in an unregulated manner in the local mining industry is a disturbing one noting that there was no Brazilian present at yesterday’s forum. He said the foreigners are fouling the industry as he recounted a recent visit by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to the Barlow Landing mining area in the Mazaruni, during which, Jardine stated, the Prime Minister had to dodge polluted sections of the area left behind by the Brazilians. He said the Brazilians do not contribute much to the economy where gold production is concerned noting that answers need to be provided as to where the gold produced by the foreigners is headed. Jardine said that on the list of the top 40 producers for 2008, no Brazilian mining operation features. He said 80% of the gold produced locally in 2008 came from registered Guyanese operations. Jardine said the Brazilians have the technical and mechanical capability to produce significant amounts of gold.
A few miners at Mahdia told this newspaper last week that the Brazilian miners operating there usually work among themselves and hardly sell their gold locally. Apart from allegations of the miners working illegally in the area, they told this newspaper that the foreigners are capable of producing a significant amount of gold but that gold does not reach the local market. A few miners at yesterday’s forum reiterated what their colleagues in Mahdia told Stabroek News last week in which they posited that the regulatory systems being run by the authorities in the mining sector may be compromised.
Low carbon
Another issue discussed at yesterday’s forum is the proposed implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Some of the miners present at yesterday’s forum said that, while the initiative is a good one, its implementation will leave many small miners in the cold. They said that a major issue of the LCDS which will be a critical factor is exploration. They said this aspect of mining requires significant investment in machinery which will amount to millions of dollars. It was pointed out that after the exploration exercise would have been completed the GGMC will be mandated to determine whether the mining operation will be permitted to commence work. Another miner stated that he is in possession of a list of issues which President Bharrat Jagdeo should address in relation to the LCDS. The issues highlighted by the miner were mainly worst-case scenarios which he believes may come with the implementation of the LCDS. He said many persons involved in the mining sector will be left with no money to sustain their families since many small and medium scale operations will feel the brunt of the requirements of the LCDS.
Executive Director of the GGDMA Edward Shields noted that the President is expected to meet with persons involved in the mining industry in a few weeks to discuss the LCDS. He said miners will have the opportunity to voice their concerns on the LCDS with the president at that forum.
Meanwhile, Major General (retd) Norman McLean, was elected president of the association at elections held at yesterday’s AGM replacing Alfonso. Charles Da Silva will serve as his deputy while Terrence Adams and Patrick Harding will serve as Honorary and Organising Secretary respectively.
I think the government should investigate these complaints but be wary of businessmen who are afraid of competition. The government must have accounting for all gold found on Guyana’s territory.
Investigate,BP? That option was not given when SN bagan its assassination of Barbados’character. The general consensus was to send the MV Esequibo down to Bridgetown and raise the Golden Arrow.
Ask Ricky Singh, Sir Shridath and Comton Bourne,Ralph Gonsalves , the Barbados Nation and SN among others how to deal with the influx of Brazilians.They had all the answers.
Double standard here. Why are the Guyanese miners subjected to such stringent control when nuttin is being done to riegn the illegal Brazilian miners. GUYANA FOR GUYANESE. Put Guyana first please. If Guyanese aint disrespecting their land so whya should other do so? The Government need to enact steps to clamp down on these illegal miners.
no tit for tat here, have them registered and let them pay their fair share of royalties.
they must be monitored and if they show no output then it’s time for them to go.
Freespeech
Do we have the resources to monitor these illegal Brazilian miners? Unlike Guyanese in Barbados and other caricom countries, Brazilains do not contribute to this economy in anyway. There are not teacher’s, Nurses, Construction workers, domestic workers etc. They main focus is to rape this country of its precious minerals and leave. Freespeech tell me, How many Brazilains you know wants to live here? well the answer is zero.
So there is no tit for tat here.
What a disgrace!
In this day and age the thought of illegal Brazilians still running rampant in our mining industry sickens the stomach.
What the hell is the authorities doing? This is not a “just come incident”, this has been going on for many years now.
Does anyone in government have the slightest idea of how much revenue can be generated if these miners are made to pay annual work permits?
Obviously, these illegals could not care less about our environment, as evident by the way they are accused of scarring up out forest. What’s even worse is the fact that they are making little or no economic contribution to Gt as the bounty seem to be heading for the border.
Where I am living, apart from paying annual work permits, one can easily end up spending 95% of their income back into the local economy……………. how much these illegal Brazilians spending in GT?
What a shame
Can’t the Guyanese miners form a body to police the industry and be regulatory factor in the areas where they operate? This would be in the sense that they report the foreigners or give them a “hard time” to operate there. People do this all the time to safeguard their own interest and keep foreigners out. How do you think that Barbados, among other places are managing to oust the Guyanese in their midst? As a patriotic Guyanese we are each obligated to protect our borders and industries for sustainance for our own in these harsh economic times, especially when we have to pay taxes and they don’t and they are not maintaining the environment.
this practice was going on for years but became ramphant in recent times, am very positive the govt knows about this illegal practice but turns a blind eye, there is even a large building in georgetown that houses hundreds of illegal brazillian miners who comes and goes as if they were born in guyana.
Tiger! Tiger! I am sure that this piece you have just written was originally submitted by a Bajan blogger, only the names have been changed to protect the guilty. And as my friend Evil Eyes would say.eheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Way back in 1992, I highlighted the activities of Brazilian “garimpeiro” miners in Guyana after reading a report by an official of Conservation International. I recall then GDF chief Joe Singh confirming what I wrote and expressing concern. Evidently, during the past 17 years their numbers have increased, with concomitant adverse environmental impact. Only two days ago, commenting on the research-and-teaching situation at UG, I wrote there’s a need to study the problems associated with Brazilian garimpeiro mining in our hinterland. Our local miners have every right to be alarmed.
The worst thing is the destruction of the environment. And that the people of guyana is not being respected. What is the government doing?
Come on Guyana, you are lapsing here, unable to properly represent your citizens abroad from discrimination, now unable to protect the natural resources of the land from brazilian exploitation, sorry but its time to get your act together
Unless you’re willing to come back to Guyana and do mining I say hands OFF!! leave them alone.
Warren, …it is not about gold it is about protecting our rights and nature. It is about protecting the poor people interest…. the live in nature …they need to fish, and plant ….when nature is destroy by some illegal brazilian in the name of gold… it is a sin
How ironic! Listen to us. We were against the way illegals were being trated in Barbados, but we are doing the same to others? Do unto others as you would them do unto you?
Pastor, you’re comparing piranhas to flying fish. The Guyanese in Barbados are poor workers earning a living by offering their labour power to Bajan employers. The illegal Brazilian miners are rapacious vultures exploiting Guyana’s natural resources and damaging its eco-system at an alarmingly increasing rate. Jesus would not like your cynicism, pastor.
Thank you Pastor Daniel Singh. I was just thinking the same thing. Guyanese have been lecturing Bajans for a long time now about “the right to migrate.” Now Brazilians are exercising their right to migrate to Guyana, some Guyanese have a problem with that. Imagine, blogger “tiger” said above that Brazilian miners are walking around Guyana as if they were born there. lol. Can you imagine if a Bajan said illegal Guyanese are walking around Barbados as if they were born there? Sigh
Amen to you Pastor Daniel. He that is without sin cast the first stone.Peace Brother.
I am with Yasuman71, Pastor what is happening in Barbados and other caricom countries is not the same as with the Brazilians in Guyana. Please, at no time try to equate the two. One provides services such as teachers, Nurses, Construction workers, domestic workers etc. all with the intention of earning a dollar and at the same time contributing to the development of the Country there reside in. The other does not contribute in any of the areas stated in the first but rather take and take and leave.
How many Brazilian Children are in Guyanese schools?
No one is tackling their status as immigrants as is the case in Barbados…we are not, at least not as yet, saying throw them out because they are illegal or broke the Immigration Laws what we want is for them to do is pay the royalties, pay their share of taxes, show good faith to the country that allow them to earn a living by adhering to the Laws of this country.
At present we don’t have an immigration problem but we do have a “Raping of Guyana” by Brazilian problem and something needs to be done.
President Jagdeo won’t do anything about illegal Brazilians in Guyana. During a speech he gave at the Caricom meeting, he mentioned that there are many Brazilians living in Guyana. He brushed off that fact by saying that migration is a fact of life. Guyanese who want anything done about illegal immigration in Guyana might as well stop wasting time worrying about it, because Jagdeo has no intention of addressing the issue. He is like Barbados’ former Prime Minister, Owen Arthur. He will allow the illegal alien population to swell at the expense of the locals, while he tries to present himself as a caring, non xenophobic fella. lol
I forgot what we say about retribution, it is a what? Then they will know how it feels to be wearing the same shoe after Guyana is overrun by a couple hundred thousand or even one million illegal Brazilians. Look at the size of Brazil to Guyana. There are a lot more Brazilians than Guyanese too. LOL
bajan girl, i wuld reserve my answer to, just read yasuman71 comments, (same thougths).
sweetpea,and bajan girl, i do agree that being in a country illigally is breaking theats country’s laws (check my previous comments on the issue)and that country has a right to remove them, but the way in which barbados goes about doing it is wrong thats the point, for you sweetpea, guyana is large enough to accomodate i million brazilians, we have a vast uninhabited area that would accomodate at least 5 more added to the i million.