‘Parties derailing Marudi mediation process’ – ministry

The Natural Resources Ministry (MNRE) has said it is disappointed with what seems to be a “reneging” by all parties concerned on the terms and understanding of the mediation process on mining in the Marudi Mountain area of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), which came into being in 2016.
The MNRE’s Director of Compliance, Derrick Lawrence, speaking on the issue yesterday, said the MNRE met last week with the parties – the Romanex Mining Company, Rupununi Miners Association, and eight South Rupununi Indigenous communities – but was disappointed with what seems to be “new positions coming from the parties, who appear not to want to act in good faith.”
According to Lawrence, the MNRE believes that Romanex can do more to accommodate the small miners, and the Rupununi Miners Association should abide by the mediated agreement and take up lands set aside for them, as agreed. The company believes the South Rupununi Indigenous communities should not present any new positions after the agreement was inked, such as their new position that there should be no mining conducted in the area.
“It appears that persons are attempting to derail the mediation agreement to which all parties had committed, had endorsed, and (had) celebrated. This deviation seems driven by knowledge of the number of resources in the area,” Lawrence is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.
He said the MNRE has assured there are enough resources in the area to provide for all the parties engaged, if good sense prevails; and still believes that mediation is the best way forward in resolving the issue.
The MNRE’s concern comes months after it was forced to call on miners to respect the Marudi Agreement.
Back in April 2016, the Government, through Minister Raphael Trotman, had intervened in a standoff between small miners from the Marudi Mountain area, representatives of Indigenous communities, and Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited, and had facilitated a historic mediation process with the help of Major-General (Rtd.) Joseph Singh.
The mediation resulted in all parties signing the ‘Mediation of the Marudi Mountain Dispute Agreement’, which would guide future engagements to finalise a solution.