Govt. working to resolve Marudi mining issue

Feb 08, 2017 News

The dispute which had arisen over mining in the Marudi Mountain is expected to be quelled, as government continues to engage the parties involved. This was the assurance given by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes on Saturday when this newspaper queried about the status of the issue.
According to Broomes, the holder of the contract governing the District is purporting that there are several persons who are not adhering to the contract and want to mine outside of the agreement.
She said that there is a back and forth between the stakeholders, but guaranteed that a solution will be arrived at.
Broomes said that the issue is being dealt with primarily by Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, who would have heard the concerns of residents in the area and the Canadian Company, Romanex Guyana Exploration Ltd.
Broomes added that persons should appreciate that Trotman had even allowed alluvial mining to take place in the area, particularly under a Prospector’s Licence (PL).
“That in the first place should have never been allowed, and the government realised the need of the persons there and Minister Trotman took the initiative and have them come together and sign an agreement.”
According to the Junior Minister, persons should try to work out their differences and operate with the agreement.
One of the conditions of the agreement was that all miners, and equipment, other than those associated with the 70 operations identified by the GGMC at the Marudi Mining License during a visit in March, would have had to remove by May 1, 2016, and regulations enforced by the GGMC.
A site visit was to be conducted no later than May 15, 2016, during which the locations of the 70 operations and personnel associated with these operations were to be identified. The quantity of stock piles and alluvial materials connected with the operations was to be done. However, no new excavation should have taken place but miners were to work with existing materials.
Further, Romanex was required to take steps to initiate the completion of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Mine Plan. Added to this, the agreement stated that Romanex was to offer contractual work to the Rupununi Miners’ Association for remedial works in respect of environmental degradation at Marudi.
Meanwhile, miners in the area expressed their dismay that they are not being allowed to mine in the area which has caused them to experience economic difficulties. The miners made contact with Kaieteur News about the issue and submitted their explanation of the issue.
According to small miner Robert Murray, the miners in the area were given the assurance that they would be allowed to continue mining in the area but have since been barred from doing so by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
The inability to mine has had a severe effect on the miners. Murray in his explanation said that residents in the area would have bought trucks and crushers to work in Marudi. He said that some persons would have even taken loans from commercial banks to finance their operations.
Murray said that the miners in Region Nine are suffering and wish that Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and President David Granger would assist, since the GGMC has closed the Marudi area to them.
In September, Romanex was given the green light to restart exploration at Marudi Mountain while small miners were allowed to conduct mercury free mining.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Marudi area had been characterized by irregular mining, with persons occupying lands in the area after the operations of Romanex had ceased some time ago. The Marudi Mining Licence had been in regulatory suspension since October 16, 2014, for issues of non-compliance.
The Ministry had promised that the resumption of operations by Romanex would be done according to an approved work plan which will be monitored by government and the GGMC.

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Govt. working to resolve Marudi mining issue

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