Port Kaituma welcomes Mining Lottery

─ over 100 residents secured mining plots in five districts across the country

By Felecia Valenzuela

DPI, Guyana, Friday, May 24, 2019

Two-hundred-thirty-eight blocks of mining land were available for allocations in Regions 1, 6, 7, and 9. Twenty-one (21) in Berbice, twenty-four (24) in the Potaro-Siparuni Region, one-hundred-and sixty-seven (167) in Mazaruni, eighteen (18) in the North West District and eight (8) in the Rupununi.

This second mining lottery by the government, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), at Port Kaituma, Region 1, got underway just about 10:00hrs today. Government’s first mining lottery was held in March this year, in Georgetown.

Resident Shondell James speaks with the Department of Public Information (DPI) following Friday’s Mining Lottery in Region 1.

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, addresses residents of Port Kaituma during Friday’s Mining Lottery. She is flanked by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman [right] and Member of Parliament, Richard Allen and [left] by Acting GGMC Commissioner, Dianne Mc. Donald.

Port Kaituma residents await the start of government’s mining lottery in their region.

In the first pull for plots in district No. 5, North West District, many residents were visibly happy with the chance they took securing mining lands in what can be described as “in their own back yards”.

Resident Cornell St. Romain said he felt great securing his plot in the North West District. “It’s great for the community… A lot of people doing mining and they don’t have their own mining lands, so it is good that the government and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission came up with [this idea]” he stated.

Andrea Roberts, also from Port Kaituma, was visibly happy with her allocation. “I feel happy… I want to say thanks to the ministry and GGMC for locating lands for small miners.”

Another resident, Shondell James, whose husband won a block, expressed her gratitude to the government for the initiative. “My husband won a block and I’m so grateful and thankful to God… to the Ministry of Natural Resources, thanks very much… We will try to do our best with it,” she stated.

Officially opening the mining lottery, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman told residents that government was working to make lands available to Guyanese who earn their livelihood through mining.

“There is a limited number of mining blocks in this area, but they have others available around the country.”

Minister Trotman also assured residents that their government, the APNU+AFC Coalition, has been working to ensure its various services reached those geographically distanced regions.

Accompanying Minister Trotman to Region 1, were Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Member of Parliament, Richard Allen and Acting GGMC Commissioner, Dianne Mc. Donald.

The next mining lottery is scheduled for Bartica, Region 7 in the coming weeks.

Image: Tajpaul Bridgemohan