Police Commander of ‘E’ and ‘F’ Division Senior Superintendent of Police, Nolan Hendricks yesterday appealed to miners to support police operations in interior locations.
The commander, whose area of responsibility covers Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten made this plea at the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association bi-monthly meeting at the Zoom Inn Hotel yesterday.
Miners raised several issues of concern to them with the Commander. One miner said that in areas like Eteringbang and Imbaimadai, it is “like Georgetown” with many persons including Venezuelans there. She said more law enforcement officials are needed in that area. Hendricks assured that the force was looking to beef up its presence but faced the enormous task of a shortage of human resources.
Another miner spoke of the ease with which persons could obtain a gun in a particular area while another asked whether the police had the right to check someone’s gold. After responding, Hendricks appealed to the miners. “We need your support”, he stated, for the police to deal with illegal operations in the interior. He said that the force is seeking to work with other stakeholder, in such areas as communication acknowledging that the system fails sometimes.
He noted that while there are already established checkpoints in several areas, the police are seeking to add a few more including at Aranka, Puruni and the Tri-Junction (where the Wismar, Mabura and Rockstone roads meet).
Meanwhile, among other issues that were discussed were the requirements for transportation and storing of fuel and a requirement for holders of prospecting permits (medium scale), who desire to use an excavator or dredge or any other specified machinery on a permit area, from November 3, to post an environmental bond and sign an environmental management agreement. The meeting was concluded in candlelight as the power went off and there was no back-up generator.
