GGMC seeks possession of miners' equipment

GGMC seeks possession of miners' equipment
Kaieteur News, 1 September 2007

Four miners from the Mahdia area will be charged shortly by the Guyana
Geology and Mines Commisssion (GGMC) for violating the mining
regulations.

Yesterday, Commissioner of GGMC, William Woolford, confirmed that the
entity is in the process of filing the charges and the miners'
equipment are in their custody. He noted that the GGMC will be moving
to the courts to seek forfeiture of the seized equipment.

During an investigation carried out by GGMC earlier this year, a number
of illegalities were unearthed on the part of the miners working at
Salbora, Mahdia Road .

“There was also a list of about 12 persons, who we are advised are also
involved in the illegal activities, whom we did not necessarily have
additional information on when we conducted our exercise,” Woolford
said.

He added that the GGMC is still relying on the Mahdia community to
assist them in the process of the maintenance of law and order by
encouraging persons to be law abiding and considerate.

“We want to recognise that the community has a role to play and we
believe that there are people in the community with information on what
took place, and we are inviting them to come forward with further
evidence against some of the persons that were involved there,” the
GGMC head added.

As a result of the errant miners' activities, disruptions were caused
to the water supply of the residents in Mahdia.

According to Woolford, Guyana Water INC (GWI) went into the area, on
Wednesday last, to review the state of the pipeline and the road.

“We expect that we will be able to get started on that road in another
couple of weeks' time. We are recommending the use of a bypass road
with some higher grounds and so we may not go back to precisely the
route where the old road was, in some instances,” Woolford said.

He noted that GWI will be giving GGMC an estimate of the ‘pipelines,
repairs and new proceeds of the pipeline that are necessary, and the
cost of putting everything together on that portion of the road.'

GGMC took possession of the area earlier this year after it was
discovered that miners were damaging the road and breaching several
mining regulations.

However, this was not before fights broke out in the area between
miners as a result of a large quantity of gold that was discovered.

One man had his hand chopped off during one such fight, forcing the
police to intervene.

It was after that incident that the area was closed off to all mining
and the GGMC took control of the activities being carried out there.

Meanwhile, the GGMC will commence exploration for potash, limestone and
salt in the Rupununi area.

This is in keeping with a continuing policy of the Commission in
promoting and encouraging exploration for the non-conventional minerals
which are also of comparable value to the better known gold, sliver and
diamonds.

This project will cost some $3M.

The Commission is also offering a scholarship programme, which was
initiated in 2005.

Any person who satisfies the required entrance qualification is free to
apply to the GGMC for sponsorship to pursue a Diploma or Degree in
Geological, Mining or Environmental Engineering.

These programmes have been specifically designed by a collaborative
effort of the GGMC and the University of Guyana to meet the needs of
the mining industry as a whole.

Each year, up to 20 persons are fully sponsored with the usual
requirements for scholarships being applicable.