–vows to raise sector’s profile
Bartician Frederick McWilfred was elected president of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) yesterday and he vowed to defend miners’ rights and raise the profile of the sector.
“I pledge that I shall fiercely defend the interest of miners in this country,” said McWilfred, who won with 47 votes against 22 garnered by the other candidate, Stanislaus Jardine. McWilfred, a member of the Committee of Concerned Barticians, which earlier this year organised a massive protest against government proposals that miners would have to give six months notice before mining can commence, said he would be a president for everyone.
Pointing out that gold and diamond mining was enjoying unprecedented prosperity, he also warned that the sector was facing unprecedented challenges. He said miners must be vigilant and make full use of the resources garnered to fortify themselves and the economy and give credence to the statement that the sector is “too big to fail”. He said unity is crucial and there have been attempts to divide miners.
McWilfred recalled that there have been several attempts by the government to insinuate that small miners are the foot soldiers of big miners and said his election flies in the face of this assertion.
The new GGDMA president said that the mining sector is the largest in Guyana – physically and economically – and it is totally unacceptable that there are only 215 registered members of the GGDMA. He pledged to increase the membership saying efforts have already started in Bartica. He said the perception that there is no place for small miners in the GGDMA is wrong.
McWilfred pledged to pursue a policy of total inclusiveness saying that tangible assistance must be offered to small miners to help them face the new challenges. He also advocated that a special desk be set up at the GGDMA to address the affairs and issues of small miners and an outreach programme to “sell” the association to small miners.
As part of the biggest sector in Guyana, miners have to recognise that they have an important social responsibility, McWilfred said. He said they have to recognise the other sectors are ailing and they have a responsibility to apply the resources garnered to help the ailing sectors. He also said that miners need to play a more meaningful role in the umbrella private sector organisations in the country and be more prominent.
McWilfred said he will stop at nothing to ensure the prosperity and success of mining in the country and warned that miners must not be complacent because they feel the industry is too big to fail. He referred to the February protest in Bartica. “If we have to we will do it again. If we have to, we will [bring] it to the capital city,” he said. He said the GGDMA will seek vigorous interaction with government agencies in defence and representation of miners.
Earlier, Executive Director of the GGDMA, Edward Shields said the association had an exciting year and an important accomplishment was unity. He said regardless of how it was put, it was the (government’s) intention to stop mining for a period of time.
He informed members that at a meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo about three weeks ago, the President said that the Special Land Use Committee, set up to look at mining issues, cannot make decisions, only recommendations to cabinet. Jagdeo made it clear that the recommendations of the Minister of Mines (Prime Minister Sam Hinds) will take priority in any decision he makes, Shields said.
He declared that proposals made, which are being enforced by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), were “not lawful” since they have not been approved as yet. “Most people go along with this unlawfulness because they do not want to be harassed,” he said. He said no mines officer can “settle a case in the bush” acknowledging, however, that over the years, miners have contributed to the officers “getting away with unlawful acts”.
He warned of another situation developing with the GGMC refusing rental payments and this, he said was unlawful too.
He outlined the GGDMA’s achievements last year. He said that they had heard that the government was going to open up the Amaila Falls area for exploitation before the hydropower plant is built and the association had requested areas to work. However, due to opposition by some persons this is currently at a standstill, he said.
With regard to the Low Carbon Development Stra-tegy (LCDS), Shields said it is very important because at the end of the day it will have an impact on mining “if it gets off the ground”.
Treasurer of the GGDMA Yucatan Reis said in terms of finances, the association had a “quite good” 2009. Income was $30.7 million while expenditure was $24.9 million.
