GGDMA should do some introspection before casting aspersions

Dear Editor,

The Board of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), as currently constituted, includes two representatives of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA). The GGMC Board deliberates on and decides on the allocation of mining properties to all miners, including members of the GGDMA.

There is no record, in the public domain, of any member of the GGDMA recusing themselves from deliberations related to granting of mining rights to its members. I am consequently perplexed by the GGDMA’s claim that Minister Simona Broomes’ position reflects a conflict of interest. The GGDMA failure to recuse itself from deliberations related to the granting of mineral rights to its members is of significantly greater national concern than Ms Broomes’ right to pass her property, acquired before she became Minister of Government of Guyana, on to her children.

There are issues related to the mining sector in Guyana which are of much greater concern to the GGDMA. The record will demonstrate that there have been in excess of 20 deaths in the gold mining industry in the last year. The GGDMA, which claims to represent the interest of gold and diamond miners, has never conducted a technical assessment to determine measures which should be developed and implemented to reduce incidents related to loss of life in the gold mining industry. Life is apparently cheap to the GGDMA.

The Mining Amendment Regulations 2005 define a large-scale mine as “a mine which is the subject of a Mining Licence and from which a minimum volume in excess of 1000 m3 of material, inclusive of any overburden, is excavated or processed as an aggregate in any continuous twenty-four hour period”. This definition, except for its reference to a Mining Licence, qualifies all members of the GGDMA as large-scale miners.

Part XXIV of those amendments imposes obligations on large- and medium-scale miners. These include adherence to several engineering and environmental compliance requirements. The national interest of Guyana would be best served if the GGDMA focus is on ensuring adherence by its members to these mandatory requirements. The costs of technically and environmentally non-compliant gold mining operations, coupled with the loss of life in the sector, have greater long-term consequences and are of significantly greater national importance than Ms Broomes’ passing her property on to her children.

The Government of Guyana has identified gold smuggling as an issue of major national concern. The GGDMA has, commendably, issued a public statement in support of the Government. Several members of the GGDMA are holders of Prospecting Licences. Smuggling can be easily addressed by these members adhering to the mandate of Prospecting Licences as enunciated by the Mining Act 1989. Chapter 2, Section 32 of that Mining Act “confers on the licensee ……. The exclusive right to explore for any mineral…” Exploration, by GGDMA members who are holders of Prospecting Licences, is performed only after these licences are farmed out, after payment of huge amounts, to international mining companies.

Quantification of mineral resources leaves no room for smuggling as demonstrated by the former Omai Gold Mines and now so effectively proven by international companies such as Guyana Goldfields, Troy Resources and Sandspring Resources. The GGDMA should use its presence on the GGMC Board to agitate for exploration of all Prospecting Licences to curtail gold smuggling from Guyana. Failure to do any less would call into question the stance of the GGDMA on gold smuggling. In the interim, the GGDMA would better serve the national good by convincing its members to undertake exploration activities prior to their commencement of mining operations. This will result in significantly lower environmental consequences that the “wildcatting” now performed by members of the GGDMA.

The President should be commended for his stand on the GGDMA concerns related to Ms Broomes. I have no intent to be presumptuous; however, I am firmly of the belief that the national interest would be better served if the GGDMA, given the green thrust of economy, is advised to request that its members adhere to sound mineral exploration and mining practices to ensure an undue burden is not placed upon the economy to correct environmental and health impacts of GGDMA members’ operations.

Yours truly,

Charles P Ceres