Small miners encouraged to focus on their business
─ “opportunities are there, move from the complacency and complaining into mining, the land is for you,”” – Min. Broomes
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Speaking specifically to small miners, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes says the time has come for persons within the industry to focus on the business of mining and stop being complacent and complaining.
The minister was at the time responding to a complaint by a small minor, of advantage being taken by the large-scale mines who often practice “landlordism”, the practice of unlawfully sub leasing mining allocations. However, the minister was quick to respond, stating that the time has come for miners to take responsibility.
“I think it has met the stage where small miners… if you in the business, and in the business seriously, you have to weigh your options. The opportunities are there, move from the complacency and complaining into mining, the land is for you,” Minister Broomes said.
The minister explained that a greater percentage of miners would access land, but because of issues with financing, they often allow other parties to mine and they collect the money yet report that their dredge was parked.
“The issue of parked dredges should be a thing of the past,” said Minister Broomes.
In addition, the minister said government has been lending major support to miners.
“The government bend back and forward, they [miners] got the land before they even paid off for it, before it was even converted, they were allowed to mine. They have the support of the GGMC, they have a seat on the board, monthly meetings and I have an open-door policy.”
Acknowledging that there are challenges at every level, the minister noted that the bigger miners have their share as well, but that Government would not sit back and allow “bullying” and “landlordism” to take place. She urged small miners to also, not practice these tactics.
Minister Broomes met with the miners at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, (GGMC) office in Bartica, Region 7 on Tuesday. Her trip to the mining town is in keeping with her ministry’s decentralisation thrust to make its services more easily accessible.
Felecia Valenzuela.
Images: Kawise Wishart.