Isseneru villagers yesterday staged a protest outside the Office of the President (OP) as they continued to voice their dissatisfaction over a recent court ruling that upheld a miner’s right to progress with operations on lands within the village.
Assembling along Vlissengen Road, over 80 protestors, including Amerindians who turned out to show their support for the Middle Mazaruni village, claimed that their rights as Guyanese citizens were violated by the ruling, while calling for a revision of the Amerindian Act.
“The Best Act?? You lied to us!” “Our land, Our life,” and “Respect all our rights,” were among the messages on placards carried by protestors, some of whom demonstrated with their faces painted while members of the police force looked on.
The legislation has come under scrutiny following the ruling last week by Justice Diana Insanally, who made orders granted to miner Joan Chang against the Isseneru Village Council and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) binding. Members of the Village Council
