Omai Gold concerned over continued trespassing of mine site

Jul 13, 2008 News

---

…as one man shot

Officials are concerned over the continued trespassing at the Omai Gold Mines property.
In the latest incident, a Linden man was shot last week after he entered the facilities and was caught snooping around in a restricted area.
Police, in a statement, had said that they were investigating a shooting incident that occurred, in which Keino Liverpool, 32, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, was shot and sustained injuries to his right elbow, left hip and back.
Investigations reveal that Liverpool was allegedly sh

ot during an altercation with an armed security guard.
He has been admitted a patient at the GPHC.
Liverpool had an interesting story to tell about his being shot.  He said that he was approximately a half-mile from the Omai compound, walking on the road returning to his camp, when he saw the guard, who was on a motorcycle, riding towards him. He claims that he ran as he tried to get out of the guard’s way.
He says he was shot in the right arm first, and when he was hit he was unsure whether or not the bullet exited his arm. He kept on running, and as he clutched his injured arm he was shot again, this time in his back. After being shot the second time, Liverpool said, he stumbled and fell into an open pit, which was about 15 feet deep.
The security guard, who was apparently in pursuit of Liverpool, saw him fall and gave up the chase. When Liverpool landed, his chin came into contact with a rock. The impact rendered him unconscious.
When he regained his senses, Liverpool said, he tried to pull himself out of the pit. This was difficult, he said because, “this hand done break up.” He managed to pull himself out of the pit and to a crossing he said is frequented by other miners. Once at the crossing, Liverpool said, he pulled himself into a bush and lay down, as he did not have the energy nor the heart to attempt to cross the crossing (a log) in his battered state.
Approximately 25 minutes later, Liverpool said, one of his friends arrived at the crossing with intent to cross the log and proceed back to the miners’ camp. Liverpool said that he began to grunt, and his friend heard him and asked, “Is who?”
After identifying himself and describing his injuries to his friend, Liverpool’s friend helped him across the log and back to the miners’ camp. A few of the other miners, along with Liverpool’s friend, took him (Liverpool) back to the Omai compound. A few of the miners went ahead of those bringing Liverpool to inform the security guards that someone had been shot.
The security guard who had allegedly shot Liverpool was with some other guards and their senior officer when Liverpool and the other miners arrived. That guard had apparently told his senior officer that he had discharged rounds in the air.
The senior officer summoned the guard who had allegedly shot Liverpool, and when he came to Liverpool and the other miners, he apparently drew his gun and said, “Don’t come close.” The senior officer then asked the security guard why he had drawn his gun. Liverpool reportedly responded to the security guard by asking, “Bannas, wha you shoot me fuh?”
The senior officer reportedly asked him why he had lied about where he had discharged his rounds. He went on to say that it was very serious business, as a man had been shot.
According to an official of the Omai Gold Mines, the incidents are worrying to his company since expensive equipment is still there.
Omai Gold Mines Limited (OGML) has confirmed that it will be handing over the Omai Mine site by October 1, after more than 14 years in operation in Guyana, during which an estimated 3.8 million ounces of gold were extracted.
Almost 150 persons caught mining illegally in Omai concessions in the Quartz Hill area have been arrested and charged as authorities attempt to bring control to an increasingly lawless situation in the interior. Earlier this year, another man was shot on site.
Reports reaching Kaieteur News indicate that illegal miners, including workers and in excess of 2000 persons, descended on the area in the last quarter of 2007, setting up shops and camps and causing widespread destruction to the land, as both Government and officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission attempt to grapple with a growing, explosive situation.
Last year, Manager of Corporate Development at Omai Gold Mines, Major General (Ret’d) Norman McLean, confirmed that several persons were arrested and police were in the Omai concession to help control the situation.
In September 2007, GGMC held a lottery to allocate a piece of the concession called Quartz Hill, which was in the concession granted to OGML, which has given it up.
Before the miners were given the official documents to start operations, several of them, unwilling to wait for the authorisation, converged on Quartz Hill in what was described as a “gold rush stampede”.
All environmental activities at the Omai Mine Site are expected to end with the company already signalling its intention to terminate its Mineral License and Mineral Agreement by October 1.
So far, the company says, it has spent around US$6 million since gold production ceased in 1995 to ensure that area is stable, among other things.
Meanwhile, it was disclosed that the mining site will retain its networks of roadways, landings, barge, airstrip, camp site, and power plant with the intention of attracting other investors.

---

---