Amid accusations of landlordism, the miners’ association has denied that miners are engaged in such activity and instead demanded the release of some of the millions of acres of land being held by the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for mining.
“There is enough land held in the closed area system by the GGMC that all can mine, and with the recent abandonment of several new claims even more land is available to be issued. The issue of landlordism therefore rests with the holders of the land, the state,” management consultant to the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Edward Shields wrote in a letter to Stabroek News on Wednesday.
“We agree legitimate miners need land and will not allow the government to divide the little that we have while hoarding the lion’s share of Guyana’s mineral wealth. The Association demands an immediate consideration and release of some of the millions acres of land being held by the GGMC,” he added.
A recent report that reviewed operations at the GGMC had expressed alarm at landlordism in the mining sector. It had noted that there is a tendency to “landlordism,” which has taken over the mining industry. “If the state of landlordism which was evident in the small-scale system was to be frowned on, then the state of ownership of Prospecting Permits (Medium Scale) and Mining Permits (Medium Scale) could only be described as scandalous,” the report had declared. It pointed out that a medium-scale mining permit caters for up to 1,200 acres. “Yet in this format, there are persons holding in excess of 500 Prospecting Permits Medium Scale and 100 Mining Permits Medium Scale,” the report asserted.
