THE NORWAY – GUYANA M.O.U
AN INSULT TO PRESIDENT JAGDEO AND TO THE PEOPLE OF GUYANA
The following COMPULSORY condition of the MOU, DICTATES to President Jagdeo what he MUST/HAS TO DO, to be able to receive a measly US30/50 Million Dollars yearly.
(One MOU Condition under TITLING States) TITLING
“Further, the plan MUST also include the development of a MULTI-YEAR PROGRAMME to continue the process of:- TITLING, Demarcation, and EXTENSION of Amerindian Lands –—-WHEN REQUESTED TO DO SO —–BY THE AMERINDIAN COMMUNITIES, with the aim of completing the process FOR OUTSTANDING REQUESTS”
(In other words, Norway says to President Jagdeo. Mr. Jagdeo you MUST, You HAVE TO EXTEND the Amerindian Lands, WHENEVER, (yes whenever,) the Amerindian Communities TELL, YOU TO DO SO (YES TELL/ DEMAND THAT YOU DO SO), or else we would not give you one cent) This was first reported In SN dated 11-11-09—under the caption “Stringent Conditions to be met…”
This COMPULSORY condition, is another CLEVER WEAPON against our Gold & Diamond Miners, as the main purpose is to dispossess the Miners of Hundreds of Thousands of Hectares of Mining lands especially the richest mineral lands.
This condition has nothing to do WITH ANY LOVE for the Amerindian People, both by local and foreign powers, and they (the Amerindians) are aware of it, and are taking advantage of it, and they, with help of external forces, have researched, through GGMC mineral maps, and purposely and cleverly included very rich Gold anomalous areas in Eleven (11) more Amerindian Communities, which they expect to get Land Titles to, sometime in the future, adding to the already held 14% (equal to 2.1 Million Hectares or 5.4 Million Acres) of the forested area. US & Canada North American Amerindians were almost driven to near extinction, and they cannot fool us of the real reason behind this sudden HYPOCRITICAL LOVE for our Amerindians. There was collusion between the World Bank people and the Norway people as you may recall that just before the Norway MOU, the World Bank People visited our Interior with a direct mission, and spoke directly to the Amerindian People, which could be interpretedas a domestic interference and an insult to our Sovereignty. The taking away of these Rich Gold bearing lands from the control of Miners will force the Miners to work poor mineral areas which will eventually send them bankrupt.
Imagine Norway has no shame being a party to the financial and social destruction of thousands of Guyanese Miners and other people living in the interior by demanding that President Jagdeo give to the Amerindians, hundreds of thousands more acres of lands, which obviously includes Rich Mining Lands. Could we be told how many hundreds of thousands of Amerindians live in these 92+ communities, totaling over 5.5 million Acres of lands, with 11 more areas to add, if they could get away with taking from our Miners, thousands more acres of the rich mineral areas, most of which they are not qualified to legally occupy in these Eleven additional areas applied for…
This situation, if it was not very serious, disgraceful and a giant scam, would be laughable, to see how a small total population of Amerindians is getting to occupy, such large acreages, while in many areas, only having a few Amerindians, “Stopping”, passing through not living or having permanent residence in those areas, but purposely sent there to target and take in, the Richest Mineral lands, with many of them already Licensed to Miners.. It must be remembered that any Guyanese, including any Amerindian Person has the right to locate Claims, Prospecting or Mining Permits, Prospecting or Mining Licences, in any of the Mining areas in Guyana, and he or she does not have to rely on living in an Amerindian Community area, before they could mine for Gold or Diamonds.
Very many of these areas which the Amerindians have applied for, as Communities and some that they already have, do not qualify them to have as a Community, because one of the conditions is, that they have to have a minimum of 150 Amerindian persons living in each area applied for, and those persons must be living there for a period of no less than 25 years. If they were no conditions to justify a Community, Amerindians could take the whole forest as communities.
There is no doubt that the above MUST/DEMANDING condition by Norway, is a DICTATE , and President Jagdeo cannot get out of that, that he is being INSULTINGLY DICTATED to, by Norway. There could be no argument about that.
ON THE 25TH JUNE, 2000, 9 YEARS AGO, at the GGDMA 18th Annual General Meeting, Patrick Pereira , its then President, in his address before his Excellency, President Jagdeo and Hon.PM Hinds, SAID THAT AMERINDIANS WOULD BE USED (by Govt.) TO REDUCE THE AREAS AVAILABLE TO MINING
PRESIDENT JAGDEO’S REPLY—-“With regard to PERREIRA’S FEARS that the interests of Amerindians would be used to reduce the areas available to mining, President Jagdeo stressed that the solutions to the problems being faced by the Amerindian community would be indigenously generated and would take into account the local circumstances. He stressed too that while the ultimate solution was the FULL INTEGRATION OF THE AMERINDIAN COMMUNITY INTO THE SOCIETY ( not SEGREGATING/ PARTITIONING THEM, as is presently being done), he did see the need for their culture to be promoted and for problems related to better educational opportunities and access to health care to continue being addressed”. Many Guyanese will remember a while back, when there was a call for the PARTITION (SEGREGATION) of the two major races, and how it was thrown out.
On the 25th June, 2000, IN PEREIRA’S SPEECH, he also said that it seemed as if the Guyana Government was being pressured by the governments of the developed countries. (like Norway is doing now)
The report said “Pereira complained that it seemed as if the Guyana Government was being pressured by the governments of the developed countries to impose regulations on the mining industry which would bankrupt 80-90 per cent of the small miners, forcing them out of business.
PRESIDENT JAGDEO’S REPLY—-“President Jagdeo said that while he shared some of the views expressed by Pereira, he resented the insinuation that “my government will succumb to some foreign pressure that would lead to Guyanese having a harder life and Guyanese suffering in a greater way.”
President Jagdeo said too that he did not share Perreira’s pessimism that 80-90 per cent of the miners would have to go under.”IF THAT HAPPENS THEN MY GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE FAILED.” (25-6-2000)
Mr. President, If you decide not to give the Miners the simple justified request of an accumulative 4% exemption to do direct mining, the above will come to pass. (25-12-2009)
On the 25th June, 2000 (nine years ago) at the same GGDMA 18th Annual General Meeting, Patrick Pereira, criticized many anti mining aspects, but particularly spoke against the new Environmental Regulations , which were FORCED on the Miners, and which he, Pereira called the Miners’ DEATH WARRANT, whenever enforced.
We in the GGDMA were able to convince that any implementation of any of those Draconian Environmental Mining Regulations, would take its toll on over 80% of our less financially strong miners, and those regulations were withheld. However with our FORMER SLAVE MASTER COUNTRIES now putting pressure on our President Jagdeo, and with Mr.Woolford’s job threatened as Commissioner of GGMC, for failing to enforce some of the DRACONIAN environmental regulations, has just unleashed the FIRST weapon to start the miniaturizing of the small & medium scale miners from the interior, which demands that miners have to post with the GGMC, an environmental land reclamation Bond of G200 Thousand dollars.
This financial requirement will cause attrition, and start a gradual exodus of the lesser financially strong Miners, as many miners will be unable to find and leave this amount with the GGMC. Some critics will say, if a miner cannot find $200,000.00 to leave with the GGMC, he should not be in Mining, but it is not easy to find or borrow money to Mine period, much less to leave that amount indefinitely with the GGMC.
The GGDMA is saying that the GGMC should use 1% of their HIGHEST ROYALTY CHARGES IN THE WORLD, which it collects from the Miners to pay for the rehabilitation of the mined out areas, of at least for the smaller Miners, instead of Government frequently taking Billions of dollars of the GGMC surplus money to support non Gold and Diamond mining areas. We need to help the people who are making a tremendous contribution to Guyana’s Economy & Employment. Frequently taking GGMC’s money has sweetened Government so much, that we are told that they are thinking of taking all of GGMC’s surplus money to put in the Black Hole. Is it to subsidise Sugar Losses or to prevent GGMC from continuing to develop the Small and medium scale Mining Industry. Of course with not much Mining in the future, at least from local or neighbouring Miners, there will be no more surplus money to take.from GGMC.
The fallout from the miniaturizing of the small and medium scale mining industry, will be catastrophic. There will be a Loss of Billions of Dollars to the Miners’ workers (not the Miners), the majority being Amerindians, Lindeners & Coastlanders, who normally take and or send home money to their Wives, Mothers & Sisters, and which totaled a Minimum of 10 Billion Guyana Dollars in 2008, (20% of G50 Billion (US250M), which is the Value of (Diamonds) and Gold sold to the GGB, and which the majority of that money WILL SOON CEASE. In 2009 the Miners’ WORKERS would take home over 12 Billion Guyana Dollars.
Could you imagine what a MASSIVE INCREASE IN CRIME, when those thousands of workers, who earn their living on Dredges etc, have to come back to the City and Villages to seek employment.
Scores of them WHO MAY HAVE BEEN IN CRIME BEFORE, will return to that occupation, and Guyana will witness a Crime surge like you never saw or experienced before. Half of Guyana’s people will desperately want to migrate to other countries.
I would like to bet anyone, any money that when certain planned Mining Regulations (Weapons) are enforced, and some new ones introduced that 80-90 per cent of the miners would have to go under, and there will be a Massive increase in Unemployment, Poverty, Crime and Social Degradation, (Prostitution) when over 100 Thousand persons (1/3 of Guyana’s workforce) who are Directly and Indirectly employed will suffer, and thousands of Workers will return to the Towns and Villages in search of work.
REVENUE AND FC EARNINGS FROM GOLD & DIAMOND MINING VERSUS REVENUE AND FC EARNINGS FROM NORWAY DEAL
Revenue to Govt. Rylty/Tax. FROM MINERS
10,000 Acres Mined Yearly
US$25M – US$28M, (2009)
G$/US$/PER ACRE, yearly
G$ 500,000.00/US$2,500.00
US$30M-US$35M- (2010)
G 600,000.00/US$3,000.00
Revenue to Govt.
FROM NORWAY
34 Million Acres.left Idle.
US$30 M (2010)
G$/US$/PER ACRE, yrly.
G$176.00/ US $ 0.88 acre,
NORWAY US 50 M (2011)
G$294.00/ US$1.47 acre.
FC Earnings
FROM MINERS
From Gold & Diamonds
US$ 320 Million (2009)
US$ 450 Million (2010)
US$ 500 Million (2011)
US$ 600 Million (20012)
FC Earnings
FROM NORWAY
From Yearly Payments
US$ Nill (2009)
US$ 30 Million (2010)
US$ 50 Million (2011)
US$ 50 Million (2012)
US$250 M (2010-2014)
5 YR Revenue
Royalty & Tax 7%
US$150M- $175 M
GGB PROFIT
G$ One Billion
GGMC REVENUE
G$ 15 BILLION.
NORWAY-US$250 M
The above projected figures for Revenue from Miners will reduce by a minimum of 80%, if the weapons of mass destruction,(Draconian Mining Regulations) are enforced and new ones introduced.
The Gold and Diamond Mining Areas worked yearly, comprising of less than 10,000 total acres yearly, removing ALLUVIAL NON ECONOMIC TYPE TREES, is equivalent to 0.0294 % of 34 Million Acres (less 14% Amerindian Titled lands) and equivalent to 0.0256 % of 39 Million Acres. (the entire forested area)
An area of 117,000 acres, which is 0.3 % of 39 Million Acres of forest is the Maximum area our former Slave Master countries, are allowing us to cut down yearly. You will notice that Mining is only cutting down less than 10,000 acres a year of ALLUVIAL NON ECONOMIC TYPE TREES for over 320 Million US Dollars in Foreign Currency earnings, (Gold & Diamonds) versus logging, which cuts down between 50,000 and 75,000 acres yearly, including the clearing of trees, to make hundreds of miles of roads, and large open areas, to bring out the felled timber, all for a Foreign Currency earning of US 30 Million dollars yearly. The local Gold & Diamond mining Industry is therefore very important to Guyana’s economic survival, and employment opportunity.
If Norway is successful in indirectly getting President Jagdeo to get rid of 80 plus % of its Small and Medium Scale Gold and Diamond Miners from Mining in the Interior, by Government firstly enforcing its uncalled for Death Warrant /Draconian Mining and Environmental Regulations, and secondly by depriving the Miners of large and economically richer areas, by giving the Amerindians most of the Rich Gold and Diamond bearing anomalous areas, which they have cleverly applied for, maybe WITH EXTERNAL HELP, Norway would then be sorry for Guyana and give them (Guyana) 30 Million measly US Dollars in 2010 (30 Pieces of Silver)
IN ONE (1) YEAR, Miners would work on a Maximum of 10,000 ALLUVIAL acres and produce over 300,000 ounces of Gold and Diamonds for a Value of well over 320 Million US Dollars.
IN Five (5) YEARS, Miners would work on less than 50,000 Acres, removing ALLUVIAL NON ECONOMIC TYPE TREES, and which area is only 0.128 % of the total Forested area, and they would produce between 1.5 Million ounces (300K Ozs yearly) and 2 Million Ounces of Gold (400K Ozs Yrly.) at a Value of between 1.5 Billion US Dollars and 2 Billion US dollars in FC earnings, over the 5 Year period Norway would give Guyana 250 Million US Dollars, over this same 5 year period, to UNDER DEVELOP Guyana’s vast MINERAL AND TIMBER RESOURCES. Guyana will now lose, almost the entire 1.5 Billion US Dollars and or 2 Billion US dollars in FC earnings, in return for Norway’s 250 Million US Dollars. UNDER DEVELOPING GUYANA’S VAST MINERAL AND TIMBER RESOURCES IS REPREHENSIBLE.
IN Ten (10) YEARS, Miners would work only 100,000 Acres, removing ALLUVIAL NON ECONOMIC TYPE TREES, and which area is only 0.256 %, of the Forested area, and would produce a Minimum of 3 Million Ounces of Gold at a Value of around 3 Billion US Dollars.
Many people, without any knowledge of mining, continue to say that Mining is destroying the Environment. First of all more than 90 % of Mining, is done in the alluvial low lying water logged old river bed flats, where the main economic trees like Greenheart, Purpleheart and others cannot survive and do not grow in those mining areas. They grow on the Hills and other higher areas.
I also notice that Government officials are trying to PIT the Loggers against the Miners, divide and rule will never cease. We have no serious problems with the loggers. We pay land rent to government for the same areas where the loggers pay Land Rent for. The Loggers use the roads we build and finance, and we use their roads. Government agencies collect land rents twice from the Miners and Loggers for the same areas. Because Mining is done in depressed lower land levels, regeneration of trees are fast and furious, a thousand times faster than in the Le Repentir Cemetery, where the trees are now nearly 20 feet high, and void of the below ground vegetation like in the forest.
I have learned lately that the Loggers, could only harvest ONE TREE, within a 30FT RADIUS. Guyana had no right to accept a stupid, anti economic condition like that, from our former Slave Master Countries, as it does not make any sense, since the Loggers have to push down trees to build hundreds of miles of roads to take out the timbers all over Guyana, especially where Greenheart grows in clusters on one hill. Loggers should appeal this stupid condition. Is our negotiators troubling from an inferiority complex. to agree to something so detrimental..
British Columbia of Canada, one of the largest logging provinces/countries in the world, who’s economic Forest areas in BC alone, is 100,000 square miles of economic forest,larger than the whole of Guyana at 83,000 square miles, used to, in the not too distant past, clear fell millions of acres, while today they still clear fell a large acreage, at various intervals. Why can’t Guyana Loggers be allowed to cut down Greenheart trees if they are together on one hill, as it will cut their cost per acre and improve their economics. This is a failure of our negotiators. Or is it purposely done. to take its toll on them, as our foreign Masters would like Logging and Mining to cease completely. Not wanting to “out do” our Logging friends, but to clear up a misconception of Miners destroying the Environment, whatever that means, I would like to show some statistics.
Miners, in mining have to clear under 10,000 acres of alluvial type trees a year for a Gold & Diamond revenue of between 300 & 500 Million US dollars yearly, at a revenue of between US30,000.00/ US $50,000.00 PER ACRE
Loggers it is said, clear between 50,000 & 60,000 acres a year for a revenue of 30 Million US dollars Yearly. I cannot believe that loggers clear that much. So using a figure of 30,000 acres yearly instead, the REVENUE PER ACRE FOR LOGGING works out to US$10,000.00 per acre, as compared to Mining at a revenue of between US30,000.00/ US $50,000.00 PER ACRE
Mining is not destroying the environment, especially with the regeneration of the forest after mining,.
Although President Jagdeo has said that in the Norway forest deal, that the Strategy would not see the cessation of economic activities in the forest (that is not possible) and had assured that NO RULE will be made to shut down the Industry, yet Government Mining Officials are making new rules, and the President is silent.
It would appear that because Mr, William Woolford, GGMC Commissioner is not enforcing the Draconian Mining Regulations fast enough, THE HON. PRIME MINISTER, is trying to unleash the MOTHER OF ALL WEAPONS, and is trying to get Mr.James Singh, Commissioner of Forests, to take over the job of hastening the Miners exit by suggesting that the Miners will have to get permission from Mr.James Singh, before they could cut down any trees, by now saying after more than 40 years, that Miners will have to get permission from him for the first time ever, contrary to the existing Mining Regulations, before they could cut down a tree, saying I quote “Every miner must give written notice of at least 6 Months, (Yes you read correct 6 Months) via the GGMC to the GFC of any cutting down of any tree, and such cutting shall not be proceeded with, until GFC would have granted, its no objection to the GGMC Many decades ago, in the Mining Regulations it states that Miners could cut down trees to mine, and do not have to ask permission from Forestry or no one. This is an Indication that Mining took precedence over Forestry, and correct they were and are, as a US 30-60 Million Dollar Industry should not hamper a US300/US500 Million Dollar Industry, which also creates the Employment of over 100,000 Persons. This is a new UNLAWFUL weapon of ultimate destruction, that is being tried to hasten the demise of the Miners. Another dangerous part of this New Rule is that Govt. could economically crush any Miner, by refusing to allow that Miner to cut down any tree.
Government seems to be running out of time to get rid of the Miners from the Interior. Dem boys say big suffering deh back part a dis, Mr.Adam.H.
Mr.President, please take note of this new RULE that is being suggested/attempted, which you promised would not be allowed. Although presently unlawful, if introduced it would be the end of total Mining, not 90%, but 100%.
Sugar workers have an awesome friend in Mr. Komal Chand, who is also a PPP Member of Parliament and much more. Rice Farmers have an important friend in Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj, who is also a PPP Member of Parliament and much more. Gold & Diamond Miners thought they had a friend in the Hon Prime Minister, until they noticed (A) he introduced 67 Monetary Fines and Jail sentences to be increased, with fines as much as $25,000.00 and 5 years imprisonment and further seeking an increase for some from $10,000.00 and 1 Year to 1 Million dollars together with fifteen (15) years in jail, as some of these would make Choke & Rob, Rape and other crimes look petty, and (B) introduced Draconian Environmental Mining “DEATH WARRANT” Regulations, and now (C) wants Mr. James Singh, to introduce the mother of all weapons, to finalise the exitfrom mining, of 100% of all small and medium scale Miners.
What a Legacy our poor Hon Prime Minister will leave behind him, whenever he demits office, that he introduced conditions in the Mining Industry, which if enforced, would see the exodus from mining, of thousands of the poorer, less financially strong Gold and Diamond Miners, and the financial suffering it would cause to thousands of poor Guyanese, living in and out of the Interior, while President Jagdeo, will leave a legacy that he fought relentlessly for the survival of Sugar and its workers, defying foreign aid donors and local critics to build a new US 180 Million Dollar Sugar Factory. at Skeldon At the opening of the new Skeldon Sugar Factory, the Hon. Minister Mr. Robert Persaud said “Our Party (PPP) and President recognized that sugar, given its share in our GDP, its contribution to national employment, could not be left unattended to FACE THE RAGING TEMPEST of A HOSTILE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT”, Minister Persaud reminded sugar workers”.
Dear Cousin Donald Ramotar, Gold and Diamond Mining and Miners face a GREATER RAGING TEMPEST, and a more powerful HOSTILE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT, than Sugar, as thousands of our Small and Medium scale Miners and over 100,000 persons (voters) involved in mining, URGENTLY NEED A FRIEND FROM YOUR SIDE. Please help our Miners.
In a SN Nov 10th report “ The statement noted that three years ago President Jagdeo had said “Guyana might be willing to place its ENTIRE RAINFOREST, under long–term protection’ to help in the world’s fight against Climate change, providing our peoples sovereignty is respected”. If the ENTIRE RAINFOREST was put under long–term protection, then there would be no Mining or Logging, whatsoever.
Scores of Miners are asking this Trillion dollar question.—Your Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo, Who, Which Country, and or Which Foreign Organization is pressuring you to destroy, by miniaturizing the Small and Medium scale Mining Industry, for they cannot understand how such a Mighty Important Gold and Diamond Mining Industry, which only harvests 0.0294 % of the uneconomic Forested area, yearly, employs over 100 K persons, and produces over US400 Million dollars in FC Earnings, could be targeted for miniaturizing, through clever weapons of Mass Destruction to Miners. No one, not even a Super thinker, could find a feasible answer to this trillion dollar question, why a government wants to destroy two important Industries, that will soon earn almost a Billion US Dollars yearly in FC earnings and employs over 150 Thousand persons. Why does the LCDS Programme need the removal of almost every Gold and Diamond Miner from Mining . WHY.
For a few years now, after seeing the weapons being prepared, against the Loggers and Miners, I was of the firm opinion, and with the latest mother of all weapons being suggested,, I am more than ever convinced, that this drive to exterminate from mining, the thousands of small and medium scale Miners from mining in the forested area, and learning lately that Loggers could only cut one tree within a 30 ft radius, regardless, and being heavily fined for doing otherwise, was because, THERE WAS A SECRET “SWAP”. We get to drill for oil in the Corentyne super rich oil Basin, in exchange for the cessation and removal from the forested area, of 99 % of Loggers and Miners. OIL IS A VERY STRAGETIC MINERAL, and must not, and will not be allowed to easily GET into the hands of TOM, Dick and Harry Countries like Guyana. Over the years, I said in many of my previous documents, that we will never see CGX or any other Drill Co., allowed to drill for oil in that area, until 99% of Loggers & Miners are removed or secure plans are put in place to force their removal by attrition, from operating in the forested area. We hear so many excuses why CGX has not started Drilling, since Guyana won the rights to this super rich oil area many years ago like (a) Oil prices so high ,can’t get a drill Rig, (b) oil prices too low, (c) It was all a scam , and the area really doesn’t have any oil, (d) CGX can’t find the money to start Drilling, and are now looking for Joint Venture Partners, and many more excuses why they are unable to start drilling, for over two years now, and the Guyana Government is so weak, that they cannot tell CGX.—We are giving you 6 Months to start drilling, and if unable to do so, we will terminate the Contract with you, and give it to someone else. Is it because the someone else won’t be allowed to start Drilling anyhow. Fearing that there may be no oil there, and having removed the Loggers and Miners, with a loss of two important near US Billion dollar yearly Industries, and also causing a dangerous un employment situation of near 150 Thousand Persons, who they think are not needed to vote for the Governing party to win, President Jagdeo, as an insurance policy, wants to get money to cover the loss of the Gold and Logging revenue of over 580 Million US dollars, seeks to get 580 Million US dollars through his LCDS programme, just in case there is no economic oil there in the Corentyne offshore..
Your Excellency, US30/50 Million Dollars yearly from Norway, could never ever compensate for the planned destruction, aided by external forces, of thousands of the Small & Medium Scale Miners, who cause the employment of 1/3 of Guyana’s working population, of over 100 thousand Persons, and therefore is responsible for a massive reduction in Crime, Poverty and Prostitution, etc, AND WHO ALSO PRODUCED MORE FOREIGN CURRENCY THAN RICE, SUGAR AND TIMBER PUT TOGETHER.
WHY, HOW IN THE NAME OF GOD, COULD THIS SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE GOLD AND DIAMOND MINING INDUSTRY BE MINIATURIZED AND DESTROYED, TOGETHER WITH SO MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. IT COULD ONLY BE ABOUT THE CO2 EMITTING BLACK“OIL” IN THE CORENTYNE OFFSHORE BASIN
Mr. President this is not a time to miniaturize the Small & Medium Scale Gold Mining Industry, reducing the revenues from GGMC, GGB, GRA/IRD and many others, by several hundred million dollars yearly, as Sugar/Guysuco is going to run up losses of between G2 Billion and G4 Billion dollars yearly, for many years to come. And it is possible that Guysuco, may never be able to make a profit due to the high cost of harvesting by humans, instead of machinery, which cost is expected to rise, year after year, as the workforce, the main voters for the PPP, will always hold the Government to “ransom” for better wages year after year. No subsidy is needed for the Mining Sector.
I call on you, your Excellency, to stop the Amerindian Leaders, who are taking advantage of the Miners’ plight, especially with the help of external forces, by not only cleverly taking away hundreds of thousands of rich mining lands, but also taking away existing legal holdings of other miners, especially areas that they are not legally entitled to, in their new applications to get Titles to Eleven (11) more of the forested mining areas. There is urgent need to set up a team, which should include the GGMC & GGDMA, to examine the Eleven (11) new pending applications before approving of them. .
I call on you, President Jagdeo, who I am sure, because of your almost super human strenuous travel schedules lately, did not get to digest the Norway MOU properly, before signing it, to revisit this Norway MOU, and to take out that insulting dictatorial Amerindian and other conditions, which insults our SOVEREIGNTY, especially for an insulting, measly US30/50 Million Dollars yearly, and only if you follow their entire dictates, in this insulting MOU, would Guyana get the US30 Million Dollars anyhow.UNDER DEVELOPING GUYANA’S MINERAL AND TIMBER RESOURCES IS TREASONOUS.
Some people say that you signed the Norway MOU, because you were advised that you were not going to get any money from Copenhagen, and you were fearful that your critics would say that you wasted Millions and Millions of US Dollars travelling. However many good things came out of your trips, as you earned a lot of respect for Guyana, from many countries, as well as putting Guyana on the map, like never before. Mr. President, this insulting MOU should not have been signed, in the same way, you did not take the UK deal to re vamp the Police Force etc. Since it is only an MOU, It is not too late to correct this. Norway MOU and regain our integrity..
Gold and Diamond Miners face a terrible battle to survive in mining on their own, it is almost impossible to understand why NOT ONE NON MINING PERSON IN THE WHOLE OF GUYANA, whether from any Political Party or otherwise, with the exception of Mr. Peter Ramsaroop, in his excellent article in SN date 29-9-09. under the Heading “Unemployment or Collateral Damage,” has come out to identify and indicate the severe colossal damage to the economy and to the un-employment of thousands of persons, that would occur in the Mining Industry, if Miners are forced out by clever uncalled for conditions to Mine.
In Guyana, we only have normal reporters, we lack a very special “investigative” Media. Unfortunately the present reporters and many Guyanese people, think we need money so badly, that because we are third world people, it is ok to sell our souls and integrity, and destroy the livelihood of thousands of Guyanese for it, and the media seems incapable of “digging, investigating, and reporting when we are being insulted and trampled on, especially by foreign countries, who regard us as being stupid, because we are third world people. Remember, ignorance is curable, stupid is forever. Guyanese and even our Intellectuals are so naïve, that a another Country only have to waive some money at us, and we jump up, waive and praise, without investigating what is the real purpose for this money. Believe you me, It is never for the love of us, although we can’t see it, it is always for the ultimate benefit of the giver, and sometimes another collaborator. Read Professor Thomas Articles. Firstly “Norway & Guyana’s rainforest” “Why beggars do not Choose” and secondly” Santa Claus or Old Higue. SN 13th & 20th Dec. 2009 . If Norway HUFFS (steals) our Pristine Forest etc.
Our late President Dr.Cheddi Jagan, is not “turning in his Grave”, but must be “tumbling in his grave” to see how “Freedom House” is allowing his Government to destroy the lives of thousands of very poor people to satisfy the wishes of our former Slave Master countries. These occupants and dwellers of the forested interior, especially the non Amerindian people, who originally came from Linden and all over the coastland, who have been Guyana’s Guardians of the vast and hard to reach forested areas, together with the Amerindians, who all live in poverty, without any amenities, were just beginning to enjoy a better life, because of increased mining revenues, only to see it now being gradually taken away from them, mainly for the benefit of external forces.
Mr. President, this whole problem could be easily and entirely solved, if you would approve the small 4% (now reduced from 7% previously requested) Accumulated Exempted areas, to allow direct mining to continue, by our small and Medium Scale Miners, which the GGDMA has written to you in their letter dated the 1st. December, 2009. If this is not approved, 80 to 90 % of our Miners will cease to mine, in the not too distant future. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF, BUT ONLY WHEN.
This very small 4% area of the total forested area, comprising of accumulated areas of approximately 632,000 Hectares, in a total forested area of 15.6 Million Hectares or 1,562,000 Acres, in a total forested area of 39 Million Acres, could in no way affect the LCDS, or any other similar programme. The size of the mined out areas could be monitored in the same way that the removal of trees by loggers will be monitored.
In my short interrupted speech, at the Tower Hotel, on the 29-07-09, I said” The miners and people who live in the Interior, would like to work along with President Jagdeo, in assisting him to achieve the success of his Carbon Credit Initiative, (LCDS) but not at a price of their social and financial destruction, when they know that it could easily be avoided, by President Jagdeo exempting from the forested area, a 5-7% alluvial areas, (now reduced to 4%) for our small & Medium Scale (not Large Scale Foreign) miners to continue to do direct mining etc. From all of the above mentioned weapons, and many not mentioned here, and with the NEW RULES (New Weapons) which the Hon Prime Minister is now moving at top speed to try to implement, which will be the “final nail in the Miners’ Coffin”, it could be clearly seen that Government is purposely, shamelessly and unjustifiably putting things in place for the economic death of almost 100% of Mining, by our Small and Medium Scale Gold & Diamond Miners.
If the Prime Minister and others in Government succeed in implementing all the planned “weapons”, under the excuse of saving the Environment, I doubt whether you will see ten (10 ) Miners still in mining by June of this year.2010. What a Colossal Tragedy is about to happen, and nobody seems to care Oh how the Miners wished Opposition Parties existed in Guyana, at least to cry on their shoulders.
God knows that if I fail to stop the Government from miniaturizing the small and medium scale Gold and Diamond Mining industry and the crippling, of the many thousands of less financially strong,, Small and Medium Scale Gold and Diamond Miners, it is not for the want of trying, as I have consistently and ‘dangerously stuck my neck out” now and for almost two decades, as far back as 1989, which I do not have to do, for my family and I, to survive in our Mining operations, but I do so because of a tremendous national dedication to try to save the many thousands of our Small and Medium scale Miners from their impending planned economic death in Mining, especially with the help from external forces, as well as the effect it would have on the thousands of the poorer Inhabitants of the many areas occupied in our vast hinterland, and the massive crime wave it will generate all over Guyana.
Many of my colleagues have constantly warned me, against offending the powers that be since, I risk all sorts of bad things happening to me and or to my family. However, I do not believe that these bad things will happen to us, as i have always maintained that I will always let the Govt. and President know, what serious negative consequences, would occur, especially to the Majority of our Miners, by any of their proposals, as I have never joined any Political Party, I am not Anti Government, nor Anti President Jagdeo, nor anti United States, nor Anti Canada, but I will always speak out especially against another country when ever or where ever I see that they are trying to dictate to us, what economic detrimental standards we have to follow, especially in areas where they themselves are the biggest abusers and polluters of large scale anti Environmental practices, all for their economic benefit.
Aid Donor Countries have no right whatsoever, and it is also criminally wrong to tie Aid to conditions that would cause thousands of Guyanese to suffer, especially for their foreign benefit.
The destiny of our Miners and Loggers,, and the many thousands of people living especially in the forested Interior areas, who rely on them (Miners and Loggers) for their living, to save or destroy, are in your hands President Jagdeo.
Mr. President, Mr, Prime Minister, Environmental Degradation is not about the Forest, it is more about POVERTY, poverty of People and their children, who go to sleep hungry, with nothing to eat, for a whole day, and many more days..
It is your duty as leaders, to give them an opportunity for a better life, not to take away the little opportunity they now have.
Mr President, it does not have to be, and end in the terrible way, it is now heading….
We plead with you Mr. President to allow mining, to have the 4% accumulated exemption, and to continue to do direct mining, and to rethink and save the majority of Thousands of our Small and Medium scale Gold and Diamond Miners, from their planned economic death in Mining, and the TERRIBLE POVERTY it will cause…This small area cannot prevent the success of any LCDS Programme..
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Pereira. MS
Member –GGDMA
