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Miners’ body condemns alleged police beatings

Mar 07, 2013 News

Miners are calling for a full investigation following the airing of video which showed a police rank beating a female in the goldfields over the weekend.
According to the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA), it is condemning what it concluded is the continued illegal activities by miners at Marudi Mountain, Region Nine.
The body also looks forward to the commitments given by the Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and expects that the investigation will be complete and fair.
“The association stands by its support for the Guyana Police Service and the Guyana Geologies and Mines Commission (GGMC) in their efforts to deal with illegal mining, raiding, and non-compliance by some in the mining sector.”
The video, of the beating which occurred at Marudi on Saturday, has sparked widespread anger and disbelief and showed a policeman, backed by armed personnel, cutting a makeshift baton and then badly whipping some miners who were protecting a woman.
The miners and policemen involved are to be questioned by city investigators and were reportedly flown out that ‘backdam’ area.
According to GGDMA, persons were stopped from mining on lands that have been granted to Romanex Guyana Exploration Ltd under a Mining Licence Agreement, which runs until 2029.  “Several persons were given Cease Work Orders (CWO) and Orders to Remove since they were breaking the mining regulations. They continued to occupy and mine on the property.”
GGDMA said it has a zero tolerance policy on illegal mining. However, the mistreatment of miners and fellow citizens by a few members of the Guyana Police Service (GPS) cannot be condoned, regardless of the circumstances.  GGDMA said it viewed the actions of the identified police personnel as excessive and unnecessary.

Disrespect
President of the GGDMA, Patrick Harding, explained that miners depend on the police for support and security and in return miners have to respect the law and regulations established. He said GGDMA will not condone illegal mining and the smuggling of gold out of Guyana.
This is especially so as gold production by these miners is not being recorded as declared to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) and or to licenced buyers.
“GGDMA will continue to speak out against illegal practices and urge all to respect the mining laws and regulations. The association is of the opinion that whilst the miners at Marudi Mountain (Region Nine) were carrying out illegal mining activities, the brutal treatment by some members of the police team, and non support by the others to protect the miners, reflect disrespect for the rights and protection of Guyanese citizens.”
The members of the Guyana Police Service were at the time accompanying a team from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to investigate reports of illegal mining and occupation of the lands under licence to Romanex Guyana Exploration Ltd. when the incident occurred.
Over the weekend, Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell, ordered an immediate investigation and vowed that action will be taken against the ranks who have already been identified.
Miners of that Region Nine area have been locked in a battle with Romanex for a number of years now, with the matter even engaging the attention of the court.
However, most of the miners have admitted that they have been operating illegally on some of the lands under the Romanex licence.
Meanwhile, the Ministry in a statement said it is committed to work closely with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to ensure that the mining and minerals industries of Guyana are free from corruption.

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