Government to monitor, regulate mining operations along Essequibo River

Government to monitor, regulate mining operations along Essequibo River
-- Barama threatens to stop major access road project in interior until
mining regulations formalised
Guyana Chronicle, 20 August 2007

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds during his inspection visit at one of the
mining camps along the Essequibo River.
GOVERNMENT is contemplating the implementation of stringent monitoring
and regulatory measures to ensure miners operating along the Essequibo
River comply with the requisite laws governing the mining industry.


This contemplation by the government followed a recent inspection visit
by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds to several mining operations along the
Essequibo River and interactions with several miners who camped along
the Barama Company Limited road leading to the head of the Waini River.

The Prime Minister was accompanied on his visit by a team of officials
from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana
Forestry Commission (GFC).

Barama Company Limited established the road in area which gives access
to popular locations such as Imotai and Big Hope in the Waini River.

“This visit gave me a chance to see this road for myself. Currently it
is about 80 miles from here to the Waini and when Barama worked out of
Port Kaituma, there were some roads coming in this direction,” Prime
Minister Hinds said.

“We are now being told that just about 60 miles remain to close the gap
between the two points (and) maybe in a year or two, when this is
completed, one would be able to drive from Buck Hall to Port Kautuma in
about 8 to 10 hours,” he posited.

Mr. Hinds and the team also discussed possible regulatory arrangements
in the event that negative consequence arises from mining operations
that area.

According to the Prime Minister Hinds, the ultimate objective is to
maintain cordial relations between miners and forestry operators so
that there is no conflict.

Among some of the major concerns about mining in the area was the
possibility of miners breaching regulations by abusing the road through
careless use of equipment, particularly during the rainy season.

Officials of Barama signalled to the Prime Minister their intention to
stop further development of the road to allow for the imposition of
certain regulations that will formalise mining operations in the area.

These include compliance with the environment bonds to avert problems
such as bad sanitation, turbidity, mercury contamination and avoiding
the destruction of reserved property.

A similar campaign was recently taken to several miners in Region Eight
after they had been in the spotlight, following the destruction of the
main road linking Mahdia to Salbora.

Barama has been one of Guyana’s significant investor in boosting the
marketing capabilities of forestry products through their harvesting
and processing of timber.

Prime Minister Hinds during his tour of several operations conducted by
Barama, commended officials for their efforts to provide the
infrastructure that will create easy access to key interior locations.

Construction of access roads in the North West District, Region One by
Barama has resulted in the resurgence of gold and other forms of
mining.

A significant number of residents from Linden have also been working at
the company. (GINA)