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Millions in gold royalties unaccounted for
– as Four Miles residents call for ministerial probe into Village Council
(Kaieteur News) – Residents of Four Miles, Port Kaituma, Region One is requesting that Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Sarah Browne lead an investigation and financial audit of the village council over the alleged mismanagement of funds and other issues.
The letter of petition which residents of Four Miles Village wrote the Minister of Amerindian Affairs.
Highlighting the matter on Wednesday, was leader of WIN, Azruddin Mohamed who shared the letter of petition written by residents to the minister on his Facebook page.
“We the people of Four Miles Village, Port Kaituma, are writing this letter of petition to you, requesting that you carry out an investigation and an audit under Section (27) and Section (33) of the Amerindian Act of 2006, on the grounds that the Toshao and councilors of the Four Miles Village Council, have failed to carry out their duties and have contravened several provisions of the act,” the letter stated.
According to the villagers, sections breached include aspects dealing with village general meetings, functions of the village council, functions and powers of the Toshao, duties of the council, death or incapacity of a Toshao, audits and mining.
The villagers documented that at general meeting which was held on June 8, 2025 they had called on the village treasurer, to give an account of the royalties and income of the village.
“She stated that the village council received 98 ounces of gold. When asked for an account of how the 98 ounces of gold royalties were used, the treasurer said that 64 ounces were sold at $540,000 per ounce, amounting to $34,560,000 in total. When asked to provide a breakdown of how the village council utilised these monies specifically what projects were executed and how much each project cost-the treasurer refused to give an account as requested. She then closed her books and left the meeting,” they stated in their letter.
At a later meeting which was held on October 9, 2025, the residents stated that at that meeting it was requested again for a proper update on the financial status of the community, to which they claimed the treasurer was not present. They were told she was “sick”.
Further, the residents disclosed that while at that meeting, the village council proceeded to read out financial statements, but the topic of gold royalties was still left unanswered.
“The village council claimed that they had received some 65 Oz of gold over the last four months but when the rangers were asked to clarify with their records how much gold was received, the rangers said they just record how much gold is washed down but the village council receives the royalties. The rangers then went on to confirm 82 oz of gold, eight pennyweight was received over the last 4 months. When clarity was asked for from the village council on this revelation, they could not give an account but told us that the treasurer will have to answer that question,” the letter stated.
Noting that this gross disrespect and lack of accountability cannot be accepted, the villagers said that for some four months the village council has not provided an accurate update on the royalties collected or other finances received by the community.
In addition to that, the villagers revealed that they only approved 21 dredges to operate on village lands. “However, villagers involved in gold mining have reported that there are over 50 dredges operating without approval being sought from the villagers at the village general meeting. Villagers have also observed that members of the village council have purchased dredges, vehicles, and other assets that they could not afford prior to having access to the village finances,” they explained.
The situation which they described as “very alarming”, the villagers therefore call upon the minister to look into these issues so their village can move forward with accountability, transparency, and good governance.
This publication understands that some 144 signatures are on the petition.
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