Mining will continue during notification period – GGDMA

Feb 10, 2010 News

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By Leonard Gildarie

As miners wait anxiously on a report from a special committee over mining practices, an official yesterday said that it has reached a breakthrough “mutual agreement” on a crucial issue that will ensure mining is not stopped.
The Land Use Committee, appointed by President Bharrat Jagdeo, and chaired by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, was up to last evening expected to continue work on the draft report for presentation to the Head of State.
Miners were especially worried over a proposal for them to hand in a six-month notification, before the commencement of operations, which they fear would have halted their operations and eventually close them down.
Already, the mining industry saw an unprecedented protest over the reforms at Bartica and several meetings including sessions at Port Kaituma, Region One and at Mahdia, last evening. Yesterday, Executive Director of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Edward Shields, said that the committee was expected to meet later in the evening to complete works on the draft proposals.
No Stoppage
While declining to go into specifics, the official noted that should President Jagdeo endorse the recommendations of the committee, it should address the main concern of the miners – that there will be no stoppage in operations during the notification period.
The meeting scheduled for Mahdia last evening was expected to continue as miners there are still concerned, Shields said.
One area being considered in the committee is the working arrangements between loggers and miners.
“This is being addressed and will concern situations where there are some levels of overlapping; where miners are working in a logging concession.”
This had been a key issue under consideration as there were several reported cases of loggers complaining that miners were causing environmental damage and were allowed to fell trees during their activities while the loggers were forced to adhere to stringent practices of harvesting timber.
President Jagdeo is scheduled to meet with the miners tomorrow at the International Conference Centre, Lilendaal, East Coast Demerara, to speak on the industry and more importantly, address the reforms.
Last year, government signed an agreement with Norway that will see up to $250M coming to the country for the continued protection of the forests.

However, the country will have to conform to several monitoring and verification processes designed to meet requirements.
Last year, gold declaration reached an unprecedented 300,000 ounces from small and medium scale miners, the highest since the departure of Omai Gold Mines Limited. This year, although the government has pegged this at 311,000 ounces, miners are aiming at a 60% increase of gold declaration to 500,000 ounces.
Loggers
Meanwhile, the loggers body – the Forest Products Association of Guyana (FPA) – in a released letter sent Friday to Minister Benn, in his capacity as Chairman of the Land Use Committee, has complained of being left out from the committee.
The Land Use Committee comprises representatives of the GGDMA, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
“The FPA has recognized the need for greater collaboration and coordination among the various Land Use Stakeholders in addressing the forestry and mining issues.  Further, the FPA considered the decision-making process of the Land Use Committee as ordered by His Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo and wish to express our deep concern about being excluded from such an important body that has direct effect on our industry and livelihoods.”
The FPA, acknowledging the fact that forest areas offer multiple uses, inclusive of production of forestry, water regulation, soil, biodiversity protection and other environmental and ecological services among others, noted it can also be utilized by other extractive industries such as mining, agriculture, tourism and hydro-power.
“Given at this time, the main contention is to better coordinate the co-existence of forestry and mining due to the lack of a clear land use plan and overlapping legislative framework governing the two sectors. Further, the FPA wishes to stress that local loggers in particular have managed to operate in a sustainable manner for decades. This is evident in the fact that less than half of our state forest areas have been accessed by loggers at a very low or negligible deforestation rate.”
Guyana, operating under the concept of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) practices, as is internationally accepted, has addressed the environmental, social and economic concerns which are the three modern pillars of SFM, FPA said.
“It is recognized that mining plays a pivotal role in the development of Guyana as it focuses on gold, diamonds, bauxite and other minerals.”
According to the logging body, GGMC during a recent meeting had presented information that identified prevailing mining areas (proposed and current) or “hotspots” within forest concessions.
Once these “hotspots” are clearly identified within forest concessions then loggers with the approval of GFC can implement a long term plan to harvest these areas in collaboration with the miners to prevent disruption to either the mining or logging operations, FPA said.
Loggers by nature will not clear the area since only the commercial trees will be removed and it is assumed that the overall impact by loggers on the vegetation in these areas will probably be less than 5 per cent.
“It is understood that these demarcated “hotspots” will by no means limit the miners to just these areas as once other potential “hotspot” areas are identified, the same level of collaboration would apply. Once these “hotspots” have been fully utilized by the miners, then a joint effort between the GFC and GGMC, along with the miners, can engage in a rehabilitation programme for the areas.
“In order for the GFC and GGMC to manage these areas, careful monitoring has to be implemented with the aid of remote sensing as is being developed.
The loggers’ association called for a relaxation of regulations in the areas of inventory requirement and harvesting limits to give them the opportunity to fully utilize all the commercial trees.
FPA also called for the lifting of restrictions such as 10m rule and buffer zones. “All production deriving from these areas are to be excluded from the harvesting quota (annual allowable cut – AAC). Hotspot areas should not be included in the limits of the allowable cutting areas (annual allowable area – AAA).”
Additionally, FPA urged, there needs to be appropriate consideration and deductions made in the calculation of acreage fees and minimum royalty fees charged to loggers annually for areas cleared by mining.
FPA said that it is convinced that their submissions to the special committee are reasonable and feasible enough to allow for a balanced approach to be taken in addressing such an important national issue.
“Again we wish to reiterate our support for the full co-operation amongst stakeholders, in the interest of development for our nation.”

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