The President must remove Broomes ASAP

Latest News

The President must remove Broomes ASAP

May 30, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
As the allegations of conflict of interest remains constant, as a mining advocate, I call for the immediate resignation of embattled junior Minister of Natural Resources, Honourable Ms Simona Brooms.
Again these allegations raise serious questions about the Minister’s ability to carry out her duties and functions in an impartial manner. An application for permission to mine on March 4th , 2016, bearing the name Simona Brooms is very much a shapeless and presumptuous act by a serving Government Minister and speak of a deep desire to accumulate wealth while holding the office of a Minister of Government.
It’s clear that the Minister has misled Guyanese and to the media to say that it is her daughter’s business when in fact evidence suggest allegedly that it is hers. When the first allegations of conflict of interest arose with her mining claims at 14 miles, Issano, which is being rented to Troy Resources, An Australian mining company in the said area, Minister Brooms said that she had done nothing wrong. Mr. Raphael Trotman, Minister of Natural Resources said that his Ministry and Government are seeking legal opinions on Ms Brooms conflict of interest claims.
Why is the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the custodian of the mining industry in Guyana silent on the allegations against the Minister? It was a colossal mistake and ill advised decision to put Ms Brooms in the Ministry of Natural Resources given her affiliations and experience in the industry remembering that Ms Brooms has both opponents and friends alike in the industry making it difficult for her to function impartially.
“Putting Ms Brooms in the Natural Resources Ministry is like putting her in her alley. She knows it well.” I call on the government to act in the best interest of the mining industry. Ms Broom’s Government promise to address financial controversies in all their forms and ways but what we are witnessing is the “same game of the former government different players of the new government”. Same game, different players. There is no need for legal opinion on conflict of interest unless it is convenient for the beneficiary, in this case, Ms Brooms.
Mining remains private investment. The Guyana Government only facilitates mining. What is a serving Government Minister now applying for mining permission for? One has to now think beyond Minister Brooms to wonder if she is being used by other person or persons higher than her with vested mining interest.
Miss Brooms’ past glory as a trafficking of persons hero cannot excuse her present guilt. I call on “Papa D” as to say Papa David, His Excellency, to act. If he does not, then he owes the former government ministers an apology. The reason being the same game is being played now in His administration mirrors that of some of the allegations of former government officials.
I personally as a mining advocate, have received many complains and allegations against Ms Brooms ever since she was placed in the Natural Resources Ministry of which persons are afraid to come forward and speak out for fear of victimization. The Gold and Diamond Miners Association must not be intimidated by Ms Brooms or the Government. It must continue to speak out boldly. As leaders and head of organizations, be it religion, civic or political, there comes a time when we have to make painful decisions. In this case, papa D as the Head of the Government, this is one of those times he must act.
Sherwyn Delano Downer
President National Mine Workers Union
Bartica

1 thoughts on “The President must remove Broomes ASAP”

andyycapp May 30, 2016 at 9:10 am

Agreed. This is a mistake.

Comments are closed.

Khalil, Pollard and Barker reign supreme as BCQS Int’l Masters concludes

Are we better off today than we were before first oil?

Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-If you had asked me ten years ago what I wanted for Guyana, I would have said a few things:... more

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more

Jagdeo on contract awards

Hard Truths… By GHK Lall Kaieteur News-Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has a defence relative to contract awards. ... more

Latest News