Latest update September 6th, 2026 7:34 PM
APNU, WIN press govt. on plans for Marudi Mountain mining area
…sounds alarm on move to lease to foreign company
(Kaieteur News) – Opposition parties, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), are calling on the government of Guyana to disclose its intentions regarding the Marudi Mountain mining area in Region Nine, which is reportedly being considered for lease to a foreign mining company.
Speaking during APNU’s press conference on Friday, Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul said small-scale miners in Region Nine are expressing dissatisfaction over what they believe is a planned move to lease the area to a foreign entity.
“Especially those in Region Nine that are expressing great dissatisfaction… I remind Minister Vickram that the budget theme is Putting People First. The small miners are claiming that they are not being put first, they’re not being considered and that the government, the people’s progressive party is more focused on putting monies into the pockets of large companies and large businesses,” Mahipaul said.
A mining operation in Marudi Mountain, Region Nine
According to the opposition MP, small miners believe they are being sidelined while large mining companies are given preference.
“The small miners are complaining bitterly that they are being left behind, that they are not being catered for, and that the Ministry of Natural Resources seem not to be interested in addressing their plight as they struggle to make ends meet,” he added.
Mahipaul also urged the minister to consider the welfare of local miners when making decisions about the future of the area. “We are calling on Minister Vickram Bharrat to be more lenient and cautious in his operation and consider the small miners of Guyana for they too must live. They too have a right to build their businesses, to build their operations and to build themselves,” he said.
In a statement issued on Thursday, APNU said it received information that the Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat is scheduled to visit the South Rupununi to meet with the South Rupununi District Council to discuss the possible leasing of the Marudi Mountain mining area to a Brazilian entity.
The party said residents of the region are strongly opposed to the move, citing concerns about the impact on small-scale miners who depend on access to the lands for their livelihoods.
APNU also warned that any attempt to advance such an agreement without genuine consultation and consent from affected communities would be unacceptable. “The voices of the people of the South Rupununi must be respected. Their right to protect their livelihoods, their lands, and their future cannot and must not be ignored. We call on the Minister to ensure that any engagement with the South Rupununi District Council is conducted transparently, respectfully, and without undue influence,” the party said.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader and leader of WIN Azruddin Mohamed also raised similar concerns in a video statement on Friday.
He alleged that efforts are underway to secure approval from Indigenous community leaders for a lease agreement covering the Marudi mining area. The opposition leader further called on the natural resources minister to clarify whether background checks were conducted on foreign miners operating in the area and to disclose any concessions or agreements that may have been granted.
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