Govt mulls stripping gun licensing power from Police

…to hold talks with stakeholders

When the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) was faced with figuring out what to do with scrap metal on the sugar estates, it invited tenders from persons for export of this commodity. However, the trade is currently banned, despite calls for its reopening.
In an interview with this publication, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin revealed

that plans are being ironed out for a sit-down with scrap metal stakeholders. He noted that scrap metal stakeholders should be given an opportunity to ply their trade, once the metal is being acquired from legitimate sources, such as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and other entities.
“At that meeting, we will provide some information on the reopening of the trade, depending on the discussion,” Gaskin, the person ultimately responsible for the trade, related. “I believe most of the persons who were previously involved in the trade would like there to be some reopening,” he posited.
“We would actually like to give them an opportunity to export the scrap metal that

they have accumulated. We don’t see a problem with persons being allowed to export scrap metal that they have received from legitimate sources, such as the decommissioned estates; so I don’t see a problem with that.”
NICIL, in a recent notice, has invited expressions of interest from interested bidders to purchase scrap metal and equipment. Since closure of the estates, concerns have been raised about the maintenance of machinery worth millions of dollars within the factories.
The NICIL notice has made it clear that bidders were being sought only to export the scrap metal and equipment located at the Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall, Blairmont, Enmore, Wales and Uitvlugt estates.
It has also been stressed that buyers would have to agree to purchase the items on an “as is-where is” basis, meaning that NICIL has absolved itself from any liability, while buyers must agree to accept the equipment in whatever condition it

is found, in order to conclude the sale.
The ban on the scrap metal trade came about following persistent complaints about vandalism. There were also issues regarding the management of the trade.
There have been intermissions, such as the three-month reopening of the trade last year, but the trade is currently banned.
At last month’s official launch of an association to advocate for scrap metal traders and other exporters, executives of that association heavily criticised the continued ban on scrap metal and Government’s turning a deaf ear to the plight of would-be traders. That association had been explicit that the status quo of ‘Paul pay for all’ cannot continue.
Dozens of former traders were present at the launch of the Guyana Metal Dealers and General Exporters Association (GMD&GEA), held at the Regency Suites hotel. Professing to have voted for the coalition, President of the Association, Malek Cave, had complained that the current administration was less willing to work with traders than the previous one had been.
Cave had made a number of recommendations regarding how the scrap metal trade could be safely reopened, including annual licensing with a register of dealers. He had also urged that the policing of the sector be strengthened, and penalties for infractions be toughened. Cave also stressed that the association would not give up its advocacy and its drive to bring the authorities to the negotiating table.