The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) yesterday hosted a farewell ceremony for Commissioner Karen Livan who worked for 37 years with the Commission and the Government of Guyana.
A release from the GGMC said that Livan was commended “for her hard work and commitment to serve miners and the sector as a whole” by Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud who addressed a gathering of GGMC staff and other well-wishers. The release said that Livan was highly praised by her colleagues for her optimism and work ethics.
The release said that Livan joined the GGMC in 1975 as a Geologist and was appointed Manager of the Geological Services Division in 1989. She was then transferred to the Environmental Division as a Manager in 1998 and was subsequently named Deputy Commissioner on April 1, 2011. Livan was appointed Commissioner on January 16, 2012.
In the weeks prior to her appointment as Commissioner, various commentators had criticized what they saw as attempts to pass over Livan who had been acting in the position of Commissioner for some time in favour of another candidate. There were many letters in the press in support of Livan being confirmed in the position and a strong statement by the Head of the GPSU, Patrick Yarde. The public pressure seemed to have deflected plans to appoint someone else.
In May this year, Livan was also the subject of much public concern after she was given a public dressing down in front of Brazilian miners by Minister Persaud. Yarde and other expressed their disgust at the manner in which Livan was treated by Persaud.
