As part of mining week activities, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud yesterday urged miners in Port Kaituma, Region One not give up on agriculture, the Government Information Agency said.
Speaking at the Port Kaituma Community Centre, Persaud told small scale miners to begin to think like large scale miners and maintain or begin to develop an interest in other activities as a second source of income in the event gold prices go down.
Gold declarations here have been down by 16% this year and miners have complained that production has dropped because
of the high cost of operations, mined out lands, the lower price of gold and the migration of Brazilian miners.
“If the large scale miners can have their mining activities and still maintain interest in agriculture, then you can too. You can’t allow what happens in the United States to affect your livelihood when the gold prices drop, you must have something to fall back on,” the Minster said.
He reminded that mineral resources are non renewable and thus the proceeds from these resources need to be invested in areas that will be of benefit later on.
When miners complained of having acquired mining equipment and not being able to acquire lots, he advised them to “not put the cart before the horse,” but rather to ensure they acquire mining lots before buying equipment, GINA said.
Some of the miners were not in favour of the mining lotteries, but Persaud said these are effective as they allow adequate and fair distribution of mining lots.
Region One Chairman, Paul Pierre said that as part of the initiative to invest proceeds gained from mining, schools in Port Kaituma now have 70% qualified teachers at present.
He said that at this year’s Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams, students’ performance was outstanding, with one student receiving 11 distinctions.
He added that the construction of a new hospital in Port Kaituma is underway and will serve that community, Matthews Ridge and other areas.
