Facing protests in Bartica over a proposal that would see a six-month delay before mining can commence, government yesterday announced the deployment of a ministerial team to meet with miners and residents of the community today.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Norman McLean tendered his resignation yesterday, after members of the body expressed “no confidence” in his leadership. A highly-placed source at the GGDMA said that McLean tendered his resignation and it was accepted. McLean, charged the source, was “not entirely on the miners’ side.” There was “leakage,” the source said, “everything discussed at the association got back to the President [Bharrat Jagdeo] within a few hours.” Stabroek News was unable to contact McLean for comment yesterday and Executive Secretary of the GGDMA Edward Shields was locked in a meeting when this newspaper contacted his office. The source could not say who will be acting in McLean’s stead.
In a statement yesterday, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that “in ensuring greater transparency and inclusion in the governing process” Acting Prime Minister Robert Persaud will lead a team to meet residents and miners of Bartica and nearby areas to discuss mining, forestry and developmental issues. The statement did not say when this would take place but Stabroek News learnt that it is scheduled for today at the St. John’s The Baptist Primary School.
The meeting comes amidst growing concern over the six-month proposal, which has prompted Barticians to shut down the Region Seven community on Monday in protest. Despite the team’s visit, the protest action will still go ahead, said Fred McWilfred of the Committee of Concerned Barticians. “The miners will attend the meeting but we will proceed with our protest action,” he emphasised. He said that at the meeting the miners will tell the team exactly why they will not be deterred. The planned protest, during which the entire town including schools and transportation services are expected to grind to a halt, is the severest action to be taken thus far by the sector in response to the proposal.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics and Chairman of the Land Use Committee, Robeson Benn, Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, William Woolford and Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission, James Singh comprise the rest of Persaud’s team. “The visit will seek to clarify issues of concern to miners and residents alike as it relates to mining issues, since there have been recent efforts to [mislead] miners,” the statement said.
This week residents of the mining town agreed to the protest action following a series of meetings, during which they opposed the proposal. Miners say that should the proposal go ahead, the small and medium scale industry will be wiped out. Benn had said on Thursday that the planned protest is “misguided” and restated that the administration will do nothing to impair the industry. He had said that a solution is at hand.
The six-month notice period and several other recent measures have been linked to the government’s pursuit of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and a recent forest protection agreement initialled with Norway. It has been noted that ever since the LCDS came into being, the authorities have been taking steps to tighten regulations in the relevant industries and the mining industry has seen increased focus, with miners being told that they would have to radically transform their mindset and operations. President Jagdeo has stated that the LCDS would not see a cessation of activities within the forest, and he assured that no rule would be made to shut down the industry. However, several miners have openly stated that with the proposals now being floated, the industry would be reduced to 10 to 15 small and medium scale miners.
Yesterday, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said that the administration takes all the credit for what the industry is today. “We’re unashamedly proud and take all the plaudits for what the mining industry has become over the years. Where we took it and where we are today,” he told reporters at his post-cabinet press conference. He said that government has supported the industry in good and bad times and does not have to prove its bona fides.
He declared that half of those “larking” around today have been beneficiaries of government’s intervention. “My feeling is that the small miners are being used…that they’re being confused about what the government’s plans are, that they’re losing sight of the big picture,” he added. Luncheon charged that small miners are being used as “shock troopers by hidden interests” to defend their particulars interests and beliefs. He stated that government is committed to the growth and development of the industry and what they intend to introduce is not a threat to the sector. He added that the administration is open to discussions and consultations to that effect.
