Ministry accuses Aishalton protesters of illegal mining

Some Aishalton residents who stopped an excavator owned by mining company Romanex from passing through the South Rupununi community on Wednesday are linked to illegal mining, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment—a claim rejected by the residents.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said that the company and its agents have a legal right to enter the concession. The concession that Romanex holds is outside of any titled Amerindian area, including Aishalton, the ministry declared.

Residents, mostly women, told Stabroek News on Wednesday that they were upset that the Marudi land issue was not yet settled yet the company was bringing equipment for proposed mining. “They are not contracted to do alluvial mining and they