Latest update May 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 02, 2010 Editorial
Mining is one of the crucial sectors of the economy. In the gold and diamond fields, despite the fact that none of the operators manages a large mining concern such as Omai and the major companies that produce tons of gold each year, these locals recently produced enough gold to make the industry the third largest export earner in the country, last year.
This is no ordinary achievement given that for decades, rice, sugar and bauxite were considered the pillars of the economy. Gold has surpassed bauxite as an export earner. But despite this performance, the experts say that all the gold mined is not declared, that the export earnings could be so much more. Some estimate that as much as 40 per cent of the gold is not declared.
The upshot, however, is that the gold industry not only provides employment for the adventurous and for the many support staff, it aids in the transformation of communities. Bartica, once considered the gateway to the interior, owes its very existence to the gold and diamond fields. Its very expansion and modern look are directly attributed to mining.
Perhaps, this would explain why Bartica has been the most vocal and vehement in its opposition to new measures proposed by the government to restrict what the government calls unrestricted mining activities.
The problem began with a memorandum of understanding that the government signed with Norway for the protection and preservation of the forest. The loggers have always claimed that the miners clear large tracts of forested land to pursue gold and diamond. They say that this activity punches large holes in the canopy. Some loggers also accuse miners of hampering their activities by felling trees that the loggers would not have touched.
The government probably accepts this fact because it is moving to contain the wanton exploration by the miners; it claims that any degradation of the environment could cause the nation to lose money set aside by Norway.
The result is that the government proposed that where gold mining and logging co-exist the miners would need to notify the logging companies six months ahead of operation and get the requisite permission. The miners are refusing to accept this recommendation and the confrontation began. The miners adopted the position that their activities would be controlled by the Guyana Forestry Commission.
The government countered that this was not the case but backed down never the less. From six months of notification and seeking permission, the new proposal stipulates that the miners notify the loggers three weeks in advance of any operation.
But even this seems not to have found favour with the miners. Those in Bartica, however, seem to be the most vocal. But there is a lot to annoy the government. Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, told the press that the government is rightly proud of the strides in the gold mining industry. He said that had it not been for the support of the government and certain moves, the mining industry would not have been what it is today.
The passage of legislation to allow gold and diamond exporters to maintain foreign accounts, the passage of legislation to allow exporters to maintain retention accounts, duty free concessions and many other things that make life so much easier for the miners are being held before the miners, like candy to a child.
But the miners say that while they appreciate the help they get the fact that theirs is a hit and miss operation that is invariably very costly. Nothing has changed; the work still involves a prolonged hunt for indication of the precious mineral before there is any exploration.
And today, the situation is even more threatened with the attention being paid to miners by the gunmen. There is always a police response but sometimes it is too late. The miners say that they are prepared to take the risk; that the government proposal is just something to further frustrate the miners. One thing is certain; no one can claim political persuasion because the miners straddle the political divide. The miners all say that politics is in no way involved and that they would not fall prey to political machinations. On Saturday they rebuffed the government team. They also signaled that the opposition political parties are not welcome.
Will the government take a backward step? Will the protesting miners force a return to the days gone by? Or will the government maintain that the miners adjust and so allow the Norway deal to give Guyana money it really needs.
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