The old ways of mining cannot continue – Min. Broomes
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─ “Be it bauxite, gold, diamond, lithium it is mining so I want to put you on notice very early and from the outset that the manner in which you were conducting business before and were allowed, it will not happen”
DPI, Guyana, Monday, August 27, 2018
Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes has warned stakeholders in the mining industry that noncompliance will not be tolerated.
In her brief remarks at the opening of a workshop at the Herdmanston Lodge for sand and loam quarry mining, Minister Broomes said:
“In terms of noncompliance the areas of nonpayment of royalty is one that the commission intends to take serious action against. You cannot have a mining pit where you are conducting business for a profit and you make your business, you extract and the royalty that is owed is not paid. The commission will be taking strict action in those regards. Loam, sand and quarry mining is one that the commission will be addressing like all other mining. Be it bauxite, gold, diamond, lithium it is mining so I want to put you on notice very early and from the outset that the manner in which you were conducting business before and were allowed, it will not happen.”
In addition, the minister said that all stakeholders have and must play their part in the development of the country’s green economy:
“The greening of Guyana and our economy is a responsibility of all. It’s not just at the level of government or the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. It’s also all of the stakeholders in the industry. You have your role to play and together in this room, all of us can make a brighter and better Guyana,” Minister Broomes added.
The sand and loam quarry workshop was organised by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission with the aim of educating sand and loam pit operators of their obligations regulations, safe practices and responsibilities as government’s efforts to ensure safer and sustainable mining practices continue as part of the green state development agenda.
Kidackie Amsterdam
Images: Jameel Mohamed