A Brazilian miner was yesterday charged with the possession of over 100 illegal explosives found at a mining camp in the North Pakaraimas.
Patrick Da Silva, 28, said to be of Dead Boy Hill, North Pakaraimas, was released on $75,000 bail after he denied the charge read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It was alleged that on December 8, Da Silva had in his possession 176 Ibegel explosives, without having permission or a licence.
In an application for bail, his lawyer attorney Glenn Hanoman said that Da Silva is a supervisor of a mining camp in the Essequibo district, and has expertise in hard rock mining, which requires the use of explosives.
Hanoman also noted that Da Silva was held without charge for more than three days by police.
The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that the accused may be a flight risk. Prosecutor Seon Blackman, however, requested that if the accused is granted bail he must lodge his passport with the police while the case against him is pending.
Bail was granted and the case was adjourned until December 16, when it will be called at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.
Sources have told Stabroek News that while explosives are used to assist in mining, depending on the depth of the mining, persons need authorization to use same and medium-scale miners are not authorized to use this method of mining.
A source pointed out that when large-scale, open pit miner Omai Gold Mines Limited was in operation, it used explosives because it would have had trained personnel to do this. “But you could get jail for using explosives without authorization and this is not given to anyone because it is a very dangerous form of mining and persons’ lives could be put at risk,” the source said.
