Latest update January 11th, 2025 4:10 AM
Latest News
- Govt, US-Exim Bank sign US$527 million for GTE project
- Rystad Energy issues misleading analysis on Guyana’s share from ExxonMobil contract
- Deaths from Israeli attacks in Gaza undercounted by 41 percent, study finds
- PNC calls for doubling of minimum wage, tax free threshold to be increased to $400,000 monthly
- Pensioner dies at CJIA while waiting to board flight to New York
Mahdia gold miners to withhold royalties over poor roads
Realizing that picketing exercises do not influence changes in Guyana, workers of Mining District No.2 have threatened to stop paying royalties to the Guyana Gold Board until needed infrastructural works are executed in the District.
Mahdia Road
This revelation was made by Mark Crawford, Region Eight Chairman, during an interview with this publication, yesterday.
According to Crawford, “The miners in Mining District No.2 have indicated to me that if the Government doesn’t start fixing the water system or the inner Mahdia roads by August, they would not be paying any taxes…They say no water, no road, no revenue.”
He said miners were forced to make this decision owing to Government neglecting to develop the area despite constant desperate appeals and protests by residents and miners. As such, they are prepared to be charged rather than to contribute revenue to a Government that is not listening to their cries, he added.
“They argue that the Government is spending billions of taxpayers’ money to assist the rice and sugar industries and also carry out infrastructure works in these regions, but very little is being spent in the mining areas which are generating significant revenues,” he said.
According to Crawford, after assuming office in 2011, he personally requested miners to sell their gold to the Gold Board believing that a portion of the revenue collected would have been spent in Mahdia on infrastructural works.
The Chairman said from all indications, Government does not have an economic plan for the sustainable development of Mahdia, which is growing to include large businesses and housing schemes. He said Government officials need to visit the area to see the investments.
One of the primary concerns of miners is the deplorable roads leading to mining areas. He said rehabilitation of the Bartica to Potaro and Mahdia to North Fork Roads are pertinent. Since 1992, Government has not carried out rehabilitative works on this stretch of road, even though that area generates billions of dollars.
He related that improvements to these roads would not only drive gold mining, but support other economic activities. According to him, if the 72 Miles road were to be rehabilitated, residents of the neighbouring Amerindian community would benefit from Mahdia’s lucrative market for their produce. In addition, Mahdia residents would not be faced with such a high food bill.
Crawford said that miners are questioning the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s rationale for building the Parika to Goshen Road when mining is not ongoing in that area.
“When they stop paying royalties it will have an adverse effect on our country’s economy which would not be good for us…So the ball is in Government’s court, they have a golden opportunity now to save our economy.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Dem signs need calibrating
Dem Boys Seh… Kaieteur News- Dem boys bin pass one of dem fancy speed meter signs wah de guvament put up fuh tell drivers... more
Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- It has long been evident that the world’s richest nations, especially those responsible... more
Weekend Cartoon
