Dear Editor,
I have been keeping abreast of the situation relating to the dragger blocking a channel in the Mazaruni and take this opportunity to acknowledge the apology from the Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure on this matter.
Allow me to point out though, that since the Minister’s apology, the higher water has allowed some boats to take a chance and pass over the rocks next to the channel. These boats have all reported however that there is absolutely nothing being done at the site; the dragger remains exactly as it was for the past weeks. The only people there are camped a little downstream and are mostly seen cooking and watching TV or just leisurely passing the time.
With the water receding rapidly these boats might be forced to stop operating shortly, and there will be no way of knowing what is being done.
I do not want to sound pessimistic but the Natural Resources Ministry assured those affected back in August that the dredge would be removed; then MARAD gave the boat operators assurances that they had notified the company (Crown Mining) that the dredge must be moved by Saturday, September 3. This, along with several messages from the company itself all seem forgotten.
I do hope the Minister’s promise is fulfilled, but please understand my scepticism. Remember as of today nothing, nothing further has been done.
Yours faithfully,
Ralph Persaud
