– but warns of more arrests if mining continues at KNP
On the heels of protests and calls by the National Tashaos Council (NTC) for the charges against 20 Chenapau, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), miners to be dropped, the Government has done just that.
On Friday, the Natural Resources Ministry announced that the charges were dropped as “a show of good faith.” It noted that Government has thus decided not to prosecute and the miners were free to go.
At a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had reminded the gathering that the area is a protected area. He noted that since it is part of the protected areas system of Guyana, mining was not permitted under the
Residents of Chenapau during their protest
law and further mining would see perpetrators arrested.
“In 2011, the Protected Areas Bill which subsequently became an Act, there were certain provisions that were made in that Act and since then, the protected area was clearly demarcated. And so, since we came into office this has been our second operation to expel illegal mining from the Kaieteur National Park. Mining is not one of the activities permitted under the law in that area.”
According to Harmon, there are other sustainable forms of livelihood which are permitted but mining and other extractive activities would not even be contemplated within a Protected Area.
“So once people go into the area and they mining in the area, it’s a responsibility of the State to ensure that they’re removed. We did so last year I believe, and on that occasion, a Policeman lost his life in doing that.
“On this occasion the mining became more extensive and therefore, the persons who were mining there illegally were subjected to the laws of Guyana and that is why that occurred.”
Harmon also noted that those who were arrested were not the managers or the owners of the dredges, but the workers. Hence, he called upon the owners to come in and discuss the way forward. He also pointed out that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) would deal with issues related to mining.
Human rights
The NTC had called on President David Granger to examine the dynamics of the alleged illegal mining in Chenapau more closely, in order to resolve the issue amicably.
The NTC had noted that it looks forward to the matter being resolved not only from a humanitarian perspective, but also for the very survival of the Patamona peoples of the upper Potaro region.
“We also call on His Excellency to have all charges dropped and to work with the Indigenous peoples to find solutions to these and other problems affecting the Indigenous peoples of Guyana as he had promised,” the Council said.
Speaking on the arrests, the NTC had described the arrest of Amerindians as an infringement on their human rights, which denied them the ability to survive by traditional means, and criminalising their activities.
“It is only clear that we must now look at the solutions to ensure the very survival of our peoples.”
According to the Council, it was under the PPP Administration that the Kaieteur National Park (KNP) was established. And in 1999, the KNP was extended without consultation, although it sits on traditional Patamona lands.
“Within the Park’s boundaries sits almost all the traditional hunting, farming and fishing grounds of the Patamonas of the upper Potaro. While the KNP Act makes provision for Indigenous peoples rights to be respected, the very existence of the Park is an infringement on the rights of the Indigenous peoples,” it said.
The NTC also highlighted that back in February 2016, the Amerindian land titling team wanted to demarcate the village of Chenapau, but the community refused demarcation.
The arrests were greeted by protests from residents of Chenapau, with women and children picketing and calling for the miners to be released.
Government recently clamped down on illegal mining at the Kaieteur National Park, based on the directives of President David Granger.
The Kaieteur National Park is a no-mining zone and is protected under the laws of Guyana. Approximately two dozen people were arrested in the joint forces operation.
