Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has ordered the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to conduct a technical and legal assessment of all of the local operations of Russian Aluminium (RUSAL) and will examine the legal and other consequences of its closure.
RUSAL is the parent company of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), whose operations are in turmoil following a workers’ strike and the subsequent firing of 90 workers. Trotman was questioned on the matter yesterday as he and a Ministry of Natural Resources team, along with a delegation from South Africa including Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources Godfrey Oliphant, visited Bosai Mineral Group (Guyana) Inc’s bauxite operations in Linden.
Asked whether the government could take away BCGI’s mining licences, Trotman indicated that while that might be an emotive response, there are legal implications that must be considered as well as the effects on the workers, should there be a shutdown.
“What I can say is that I have ordered GGMC to conduct a technical and legal assessment of all of RUSAL’s operations. I am hoping that I can get that report to present to his Excellency [President David Granger] and other Ministers on Tuesday and we are looking at all of the legal and other consequences. Either them closing or we closing them. We just can’t have the status quo continue as is,” he said, while noting that the company currently has three mining licences.
“There’s of course force majeure and, as lawyers, we would want to be cautious with our language, but first force majeure is what both sides would be looking at and the lawyers have advised me they need to complete their assessment before any comments are made,” he said.
Against this backdrop, Trotman also said that the occasion has given rise for government to review the matter of having a greater say and stake in mining in Guyana.
With the delegation from South Africa in the country, he said that they have been communicating on not only improving the management of the country’s resources but also how the government can reassume “some control of their resource.”
“Despite our bad experiences in the 1970s and early 1980s, it is time that Guyana takes a second and perhaps a third look at having some stake in its natural resources and in the means of production as we review RUSAL’s operations, whether they want to continue, or we want them to continue,” he added.
Trotman had said on Monday that the stalemate between BCGI, the workers and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) was expected to be resolved with the workers being reinstated and normalcy resuming.
However, as the industrial actions by the workers enters its 16th day, there has been no positive development from either the company, as it relates to the rehiring of the 90 terminated workers, or from the government as it relates to action against the company for the dismissal of the workers.
Yesterday morning, representative of the GB&GWU, the Guyana Trades Union Congress, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana, and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union visited the striking bauxite workers in Aroaima and Kwakwani, where the Berbice River remains blocked.
The unions and the workers have emphasised their unwillingness to stand down amidst the “disrespect” from the company and GB&GWU secretary Leslie Junor explained that they were encouraged to keep the pressure on since workers have endured disrespect from foreign companies, especially RUSAL, for “too long.”
The unions have also planned for additional supplies to be delivered to the workers and will ensure that there is picket action every Thursday.
The workers had blocked the company’s barges from leaving and entering through the Berbice River and up to yesterday, it remained blocked. Junor said that they have no intention of unblocking the river or stopping their actions until the company budges or leaves.
