Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 02, 2016 News
A Corps of Wardens will be introduced to function in the Natural Resources sector to boost the monitoring and enforcement competences of the regulatory bodies in Guyana.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman made this comment after an inquiry on what will be done to address some of the issues was raised by Major General Joseph Singh in a letter published in this newspaper Wednesday.
Trotman responded by supplying this newspaper with a letter sent to Major Singh by Director of Compliance, Derrick Lawrence, after he informed them of the prevailing situation.
In Lawrence’s response, he told Singh that an investigation into the complaint has been ordered by the subject Minister. He said that senior mines engineer, Carlos Todd, accompanied him to the area as part of an investigation team.
Lawrence relayed to Singh that although it could not be determined which specific “dragga” (water dredge) was responsible for the environmental damage reflected in the pictures sent to him by Singh, his team has identified the weaknesses within the existing Guyana Geology and Mines Commission inspectorate to effectively monitor Guyana’s rivers.
Hence, with the soon to be introduced Corps of Wardens, he said that the issue will be pursued as a matter of urgency by the Compliance and Enforcement Division of the Ministry.
According to Singh’s letter, on October 17, 2016 he had informed relevant regulatory and enforcement agencies of serious degradation taking place at the Potaro and Essequibo Rivers between Tumatumari and Omai due to careless gold dredging activities.
In addition, Singh said that on a later date, November 27, 2016, while on an aerial reconnaissance he noticed that the indiscriminate mining did not only affect the Potaro and Essequibo Rivers but also in the middle of the Cuyuni, in the Wenamu River, in the Ekereku River and in the middle of the Mazaruni River.
He said that the impact of mining activities on river banks such as on the left bank of the Cuyuni River below Ankoko Island, and on the river channel of the Wenamu River (on both the Guyana and Venezuela banks) also have strategic implications since they relate to the delineation of the international border.
He said that although gold mining is important to Guyana and Guyanese, the way in which it is conducted must be in accordance with established regulations.
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