GGMC puts 125 officers into interior to ensure integrity -Commissioner

Sep 11, 2014 News

By: Zena Henry
As local miners continue to lament difficulties faced during their interior operations, and given the dishonesty of authority representatives, Guyana Geology and Mines (GGMC) Commissioner, Rickford Vieira, has noted that there are several measures in place to ensure the integrity of its officers, and disciplinary action to deal with those who breach the law.
Vieira, while unable to give a figure, said that for the year, several persons have been disciplined when found acting against protocol. Some, he said, have been sent home, or fined. Vieira added that while the agency seeks to carry out its mandate in the most professional manner, it is difficult to monitor all the locations.
There are restraints that hamper the supervisory aspect of the officers’ conduct. This deals specifically with assessing their performance.
The Commissioner explained that for instance, an officer could be monitoring a site, and when there are inconsistencies identified by the assessor or supervisor, the officer would come up with “frivolous excuses.” In some cases, there is no way to identify whether the officer is being dishonest.
“These are some of the challenges the agency faces, but we try to be as effective as possible,” Vieira told the newspaper.
The Commissioner said that those persons who pay bribes to the officers are obviously doing something illegal and thus, feel the need to pay to perpetuate their activities. He added that while the Commission would receive complaints, it is not usual that complainants would make available necessary evidence.
However, when the GGMC finds its officers going against what is required they are usually fined. Many of the matters involve workers paying as much as $90,000 to hide improprieties. He went on to say that the law provides for fines totaling a mere $30,000 and that is what is awarded by the courts.
But most persons opt to settle outside of the court and the agency is able to recommend a more suitably suggested fine.
This is better for the agency, Vieira noted, since to prosecute errant officers would attract a cost. Most of the cases are held in interior located courts. The body has to provide for the relevant authorities to attend court, a lawyer has to be secured and at the end of it all, the defendant only pays a very small sum.
In other cases, officers are removed from the interior and assigned “desk jobs” in the city. These include the monitoring of goldsmiths, registering dredges, among others.
There are some 125 field officers in the interior, Vieira said. They monitor mining operations by ensuring that the rules and regulations are followed by operators; that licenses, permits etc are up-to-date. Vieira said that field agents often encounter dangerous situations.
He said that GGMC officers do not carry weapons, despite regular threats being made on their lives. Last year, an officer was shot while on duty.
It is therefore usual, that when going in certain areas, mining officers would be sure to take police ranks with them. Vieira said that it is important for the two agencies to maintain a good relationship.
GGMC has been working at a satisfactory level. It is keeping a close eye on interior mining operations. Vieira said that currently, the agency is operating efficiently given its equipment and machinery. The ideal mode of transport for the agency’s operations is All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs); of which they have 50.
In the coming months, GGMC expects to increase its collection of ATVs.

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GGMC puts 125 officers into interior to ensure integrity -Commissioner

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