Local content policy high on agenda as Min. Bharrat visits First Bauxite
Employment of Guyanese is among the issues being looked at by Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Vickram Bharrat following his visit to the Bonasika Bauxite Project in Region Three.
Accompanied by a high-level team from his Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) the Minister on Friday toured the US-owned company, First Bauxite (FBX) and its subsidiary Guyana Industrial Mineral Incorporated (GINMIN) to have a first-hand look at its mining operations.
“We have mentioned to the company that our Government’s objective is to look at value-added and to create more opportunities for Guyanese and for local businesses as well,” Minister Bharrat told DPI.
He added, “a number issues would have been raised in terms of local content. The company is on par with the Government plans; out of the 102 employees, two are foreigners, and 100 are locals who are employed by the company.”
Based on observations during the extensive tour, the Minister said that the company appears to be quite organised.
He also applauded First Bauxite for work executed under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme.
“The company has constructed a new primary school, that is for the neighbouring village so that those children can benefit from that new facility. They’re also producing electricity for the neighbouring village Sand Hills […] and also they are procuring or purchasing local vegetables and provisions from those villages; that is something we encourage and something we support,” the Minister noted.
The company officially opened its Guyana operations in February, becoming the third large-scale bauxite mining operation in the country. However, the Bonasika Bauxite Project has been in Guyana since 2008.