Benn shocked at mining damage in Region 8 - miners have to move out for assessment

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56525890

Benn shocked at mining damage in Region 8
-miners have to move out for assessment
Stabroek News
Thursday, August 2nd 2007

Sections of the roadway dredged by miners, destroying miles of
pipelines put there to supply potable water to Mahdia and Campbell Town
in Region Eight. (Photo courtesy of the Regional Democratic Council)

Following a visit by a ministerial team to Region Eight
(Potaro/Siparuni), Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn
yesterday expressed shock at mining damage in the area and miners have
to move out in 48 hours for an assessment of the situation.

Twelve hundred families in Region Eight have to now wait longer before
they can access potable water after miners in Mahdia dredged roads
through villages, damaging pipelines that were laid under them.

Regional Information Officer Daniel Fraser, in a statement from the
Regional Administration last week said the community was being supplied
under the Salbora Water Project which should have come on stream since
March 2007.

According to the statement miners destroyed miles of roadway, exposing
and damaging pipelines, using land dredges and other means of
excavation in their quest for gold and diamonds. Water flow has been
diverted through land, creeks and other waterways which make it unfit
for human consumption. Mahdia and the Campbell Town Amerindian village
sourced potable water from the Salbora Falls.

Following the Region Eight statement, a Government Information Agency
release said that government ministers yesterday expressed shock and
disappointment with the condition of the road since this action not
only compromises the water distribution network in the area but also
its economic activities.

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Benn; Minister of Housing and
Water Harry Narine Nawbatt; and Minister of Local Government and
Regional Development Kellawan Lall yesterday visited the area to
address several issues of concern.

Most notably has been the destruction of infrastructure by the mining
community resulting in a lack of potable water to residents. Benn said
that approximately three miles of roadway that extends from Mahdia to
Salbora were being destroyed by mining activity.

Benn said that he has informed the mining officers that no mining would
be allowed along the road or in the reserves since mining there is
unlawful. According to GINA, Benn is also to inform Prime Minister Sam
Hinds of this decision.

The Ministers indicated that they would share perspective on the issue
to find a way out of the present situation.

The Region Eight administration said that though the Tactical Services
Unit of the Guyana Police Force had reinforcements and worked along
with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission's (GGMC) Warden/Mines
Officer there was no halt to the destruction. Stabroek News understands
too that the miners stole some of the pipelines since the material is
sometimes used in mining activities. The administration said it is
concerned about the situation and wants the GGMC to exercise control in
the circumstances.

In relation to what action would be taken to resume the water project,
Guyana Water Incorporated Hinterland Manager Gladwin Tait said that the
company has engaged a contractor who has gone into the community to
start remedial work. Tait said there is still much work to be done
since the damage was severe. Meanwhile, water levels in the region
remain high as heavy rainfall in the Pakaraimas and surrounding
mountains and communities have caused extensive flooding and erosion of
roadways.

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