Mining syndicates to begin extracting

DPI, GUYANA, Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Mining syndicates have been granted permission to begin working parts of their blocks, even as they finalise payments with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

To date, 14 mining syndicates have been established which, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman said, is expected to benefit thousands of families.

Through the intervention of Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, miners in the syndicate were granted permission last year to begin working two of the 10 blocks allocated to them.

“That has started and allows people to be able to mine and to earn and take care of their families,” Minister Trotman said. He explained that the remaining blocks applied for are being held in escrow for the syndicates “as they bring themselves into a state of readiness”.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources is addressing “teething issues” with the National Mining Syndicate the Minister noted. While the initial allocation is 10 blocks, Minister Trotman assured that the syndicates can apply for more at a later date. This was a contentious issue for the syndicates.

Minister Broomes was commended for her work in making this initiative a success.

The proposal to establish mining syndicates was the brainchild of Minister Broomes as a means of addressing the complaints of lack of access to mining lands and other challenges faced by small miners. Minister Broomes consulted with mining communities across the country last year during the implementation of the initiative.

Minister Trotman noted, “this is one of the initiatives that will be transformative for the entire mining industry and I believe the benefits are going to be reaped and seen decades from now”.

 

By: Tiffny Rhodius

 

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