Row erupts over the confiscation of GGMC building

Apr 25, 2013 News

While the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has comfortably taken up residence at the newly constructed Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) building, at Brickdam, senior Government officials are apparently opposed to the Ministry’s takeover of the building.

The GGMC building now occupied by the Natural Resources Ministry.

Kaieteur News was reliably told that arguments erupted at Office of the President sometime last week when Government leaders expressed disapproval with the confiscation of the GGMC building which was constructed primarily to ease the overcrowding situation at the Brickdam head office.
It is unclear whether the Ministry has been asked or ordered to return the facilities to the GGMC but contentions are that the Natural Resources Ministry had no reason to occupy the building since the edifice is way more than the hand full of Ministry staffers need.
The move to take over the GGMC building was confirmed in early February when the Commission was reportedly ordered to spend more than $100M to buy the defective High Street building which was originally slated for the Labour and Human Services Ministry.
Additionally, GGMC would have to spend a whopping US$3M ($600M) to make the High Street building habitable for its 300-plus staff, Kaieteur News was told.
Senior officials of the GGMC and other staffers had also expressed disapproval with the Natural Resources Ministry occupying their building especially after they had faced the tab in the building’s construction.
They said that the Natural Resources Ministry waited until minor work was left to state their interest in the building. They told this newspaper that the Ministry was moving a small contingent to occupy two floors at the GGMC Brickdam location, while the Commission would have to face the full cost of repairing the High Street building and continue in their congested state.
Added to their financial burdens, is a hefty utility bill as discussions on internet, water, telephones and electricity payments had not occurred.
Currently, the High Street building is in need of doors and windows; ceiling and other interior repairs such as cubicles and other work spaces. Air conditioning units, electricity, telephones and water also have to be installed, while concern was also raised about the capacity capabilities of the High Street location.
In accommodating staff, machinery and visitors, GGMC said a capacity of 50 pounds per square inch was needed, while the location only accommodated 35 pounds.
Staffers had also argued that the move by the Natural Resource Ministry to the GGMC location was merely to have a greater say in the Commission’s affairs since in recent times, the Ministry has intervened and made orders in relation to GGMC business.
The Natural Resources Ministry had however said in a press release, “Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), an agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment is currently expanding its monitoring and compliance of mining operations in the various mining districts to complement the rapid growth of the mining sector.”
The release said that a Technical Evaluating Committee was reviewing bids for the design and rehabilitation of the said High Street building to accommodate upgraded laboratories, cartographic section and library.
The release went on to say that the GGMC completed the rehabilitation of two buildings at Upper Brickdam, one to house spares and other supplies and the other, the administrative building to accommodate staffers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, which provides support and guidance to the Commission.
GGMC has however argued that it is an Agency on its own, while the Ministry is only a policy maker, there is no need for the Ministry’s oversight, it added. Under the GGMC Act constituted on May 30, 1979, they said the Agency is an established body to execute GGMC’s business protected by the Constitution in its right to govern itself in whichever way it sees fit.
The Act states that the Chairman would overlook the business of the Commission which would involve policy-making. But where the Chairman is not available, the Minister shall take his place.
This publication was however told that the GGMC Chairman is being bypassed and the Minister is going straight to the employees, completely ignoring the chain of command.
In relation to the Brickdam building, Kaieteur News was told that a GGMC staffer is yet to occupy the location.

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