Dear Editor,
A letter from Mr Edward Shields, a Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association consultant, that appeared in Stabroek News of August 17 refers (‘The system of closed areas and re-opening lands for mining should be reviewed’).
The GGMC Closed Area Committee (CAC) was established by appointment by the Minister with responsibility for Mines and Minerals and attained its legal status by virtue of the special regulations which establish the parameters of the Committee’s functions.
The functions of the CAC are essentially to augment the general functions of the GGMC which is the agency with the overall legal authority and responsibility for monitoring and regulating the mining industry. The CAC is an aid to this function and provides integrity and transparency to the process of the releasing of lands through fair and organized mechanisms.
The CAC has representatives from the Board of Directors GGMC, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Small Miners Association, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Association and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
The process followed by the committee is one whereby it deliberates on requests made for the release of lands in closed or reserve areas. In this process all members of the committee are given the opportunity to express their concerns and views as these relate to matters sent to the CAC from the Minister. Further, matters benefit from legal advice wherever necessary to ensure that the committee functions as it should.
All decisions and recommendations of the committee are communicated to the Minister of Mines and the Commissioner from the Chairman of the CAC. At this point, the Minister approves or disapproves the recommendations submitted by the committee. The CAC has no authority to grant or issue lands to individuals, companies or other stakeholders in the industry; rather the committee makes recommendations to the Minister for his action.
It must be reiterated that the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association has a representative on this committee who has never raised objections as regards the functioning and effectiveness of the committee.
Auctions and lotteries are governed by specific regulations and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) which by virtue of the current expansion of the mining industry pose a challenge. Lottery areas have specific criteria such as they must be within a 5 kilometre radius of a main access road; the area has to be a cancelled property; and there must be a possible mineralized target within the area. Several other criteria have to be satisfied as well prior to an area being recommended for lottery by the CAC and then approved by the Minister.
In recent times, the CAC has borne the additional responsibility of providing alternative property to property-holders affected by the Amerindian titling and extensions. This exercise conducted by the Guyana Land and Surveys Commission has affected hundreds of property holders in several mining districts, and has affected the auctions and lotteries held by the CAC. It still remains a challenge for the CAC to identify and determine suitable areas to facilitate lotteries and auctions.
These and other matters were discussed and addressed to some measure of resolution and clarification at a meeting on Friday, August 16, 2013 which was attended by representatives of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE).
Yours faithfully,
Jimmy Reece Chairman Closed Area Committee
