Head of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) Simona Broomes has called for greater protection and more responsive law enforcement for women miners.
Speaking at the organization’s second anniversary celebrations held at the Savannah Suite, Pegasus on Friday evening, Broomes said that due to escalating gun crimes, the women miners question the safety credentials of the sector and she said that there needs to be a greater police presence in the mining community.
“I am waiting for answers and to see changes. While on the coast you can see a heavy police presence, we invest even more in the mining sector and yet we are so vulnerable. In some cases you have miners coming and build outposts and they are empty because of the lack of manpower to fill these positions. I want to make a call to the police to say we deserve better,” she argued.
With regards to health, Broomes said, “We need health, health is lacking. Women are still vulnerable. We the women are saying that we deserve to be treated better.”
The organization also launched its first human trafficking report under the theme, ‘Removing the veil from modern day slavery’, to coincide with its second anniversary.
Broomes pointed out that in the report, of the 29 women the organization rescued last year, 19 of them were below the age of 18 but the organization has concerns with the length of time taken by the police to complete their investigations and sending the files to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.
Broomes also called for a level playing field for women miners. “Please to receive a letter that cabinet has opened a seat to the mining school for a member of the Guyana Women’s Organization. Are we only fit to be on a seat for the mining school? Why are we not yet having a seat on the board of the GGMC which is the highest decision making organization in the mining sector…changes must come for women in mining,” she stated.
She also announced that the organization has a work programme for the year which includes a model mining facility designed to cater for the specific needs of women miners.
US Ambassador Brent Hardt speaking at the launch, said that the organization has advocated for women who are denied pay simply because an employer feels a woman poses no threat, that she is weak and can be exploited. He also said that the organization has championed the inclusion of women in the mining sector by advocating for skill training opportunities for women interested in mining.
According to Hardt, “from a small group of women banding together to solve common challenges, the GWMO has become a recognized force in promoting economic equality, women and combating trafficking in persons in Guyana.”
Hardt also asserted that like in the United States, while it is vital for Government to take the lead in combatting TIP, it must also listen to and support civil society. “This is so vital because many TIP victims are reluctant to contact law enforcement. The relationship of trust that NGOs are able to establish in communities has proven to be a key asset to identifying and assisting victims…” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources Robert Persaud said that organizations like the GWMO will soon be benefitting from mercury-free mining.
“Last year we were one of the first countries…to have signed onto the prevention of mercury…what we have done is we have moved quickly in setting up a mercury free mining fund whereby small miners like yourself will be able to access soft financing and be able to acquire mercury free mining equipment for your operations,” he said.
Also present at the event were United Nations Resident Coordinator Khadija Musa, Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Nicole Giles, Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association President Patrick Harding, and British High Commissioner Andrew Ayre.
