Dear Editor,
The Bartica Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) views with concern the strained relationship between the government and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’Association (GGDMA) over the proposed new tax measures and the threat by miners to close operations if negotiations fail.
This is worrying for businesses in the already paralyzed Bartica economy, and it will have a domino effect on the community that still depends solely on mining. The contributions of miners to the development of Bartica have not gone unnoticed.
Bartica is the nerve centre for Region 7 and if miners have no choice but to pull out from operations, the already high employment rate will increase further, and businesses will be forced to close since they are the main suppliers to miners.
At present, approximately 60% -70% of the 15000 population of Bartica is connected to mining. Mining has remained the largest contributor to Guyana’s GDP and has outperformed all other sectors, making it the lifeline of the Guyanese economy.
BCCI views the new tax measures the government is implementing as killing the goose which lays the golden egg. The Finance Minister during his budget presentation spoke about the satisfactory performance of the mining sector. The Minister of Natural Resources has showered praise on the mining sector for the increase in gold declarations and for surpassing the target projected.But it is the miners who should be commended for their honesty and efforts to promote transparency in the sector. It is the miners who have been and remain one of the largest providers of jobs in and around Bartica, not the government. Mining is private investment. Government only facilitates mining.
Miners must not be intimidated or bullied by the government. Government has no direct investment in mining. Private capital is being invested and therefore the government will be powerless to stop miners from taking whatever decisions they so desire for their survival.
BCCI urges compromise for the sake of job security and business survival in Bartica. BCCI notes with disappointment that the GGDMA had to resort to the media to beg for a meeting with the President.
In light of this, BCCI urges the Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, to mediate between his government and the miners.
BCCI urges more tax waivers and concessions for miners who in turn will provide much needed jobs in mining districts, more so in Bartica.
Yours faithfully,
Sherwyn Delano Downer
BCCI
