Dear Editor,
I refer to your report of April 1, 2009 (‘Canadian firm eyes Cuyuni for large scale mining, hydro-power plant’) on prospective gold mining in the Cuyuni area, together with related releases. It would be acknowledged that this is really one side of the matter. One would or should expect that any investment should have a projection of the intended benefits to be derived from any such activity. As such nothing is published in this connection. The many are led to believe that any and all investments are for their own good.
Will the authorities responsible for these releases on the subject of gold mining kindly indicate what sort of profit will accrue to the country of Guyana from extracting this everlasting material? Has anyone set aside funds in advance to provide for environmental clean-up and removal of toxic substances?
Remember the word ‘Omai’ is now synonymous with disaster and great loss. We need to see the other side of this contemplated new coin.
Yours faithfully,
John De Barros
