Miners who were brutally robbed split from GGMA

Nov 02, 2015 News

– Form rival association

Two members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) have decided to launch another association, the Guyana Small Miners Association (GSMA) with the aim of focusing on issues affecting small miners.
It was this focus that the founders- Alisha and Mario Figueria- said they found lacking in their interactions with the GGDMA and caused them disillusionment.
Back in May 2015, the couple suffered a vicious shotgun attack.
In the resulting fracas, equipment, valuing millions, was vandalized and an employee sustained a shotgun injury.
“Our mission statement will be, providing advice and support to the small miners of Guyana, ensuring that everyone matters regardless of your status,” Alisha Figueria told this publication. “We were influenced by the meeting at GGDMA (where the concessions for mining equipment were discussed) where we were not allowed to air our concerns freely.”
While in the meeting, the couple said they made efforts to request clarification on what measures the Association would take against the alleged perpetrators.

The couple’s mining camp

Both the owner and the couple are members of GGDMA. However, they were allegedly refused an audience.
“We will be holding a meeting. A date will be advertised,” Alisha Figueria said, adding that the body would be legally constituted.
“The main purpose of the meeting is so that persons can take the floor and ask questions or air their concerns. We are asking persons to not be afraid to talk and come out and let us know your woes.”
“We are mainly focusing on landlordism, the prevalent habit of using small miners to prospect the land while promising them paperwork, and when they find some gold, use intimidation to put them off the land, most times forcefully.”
She also explained that issues, including corruption within the mining industry, and miners with large tracts of unused mining land and a faulty lottery system used to award land, would be on the table. The issue of labor violations in the hinterland would also be discussed.
“We are not afraid to ask the tough questions and raise the right topics. We also would like to help persons that are experiencing problems and point them in the right direction.”
Among the other advice the association will offer is investment advice, bullyism practices, labor laws and safe mining practices. The association is also envisioning offering advice on new technologies, ill effects of mercury use, malaria and dengue prevention.
Revealing that for now there would be no membership fee, the miner stressed that the association would “offer another door to the small man who is being ignored.” She also revealed that the time and venue for the inaugural meeting would be advertised.