Marudi miners urged to move to selected area or face action

Itinerant miners working in the Marudi area have been warned that they will face “enforcement” action if they refuse to move to the area designated for them.

As part of an agreed menu of measures, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) facilitated the movement of miners to a new area that will accommodate structures and shops, so as to facilitate the smooth conduct of an ongoing Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) in the area, which Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited is required by law to complete before full-fledged operations can commence.

The Ministry of Natural Resources said it continues to work with the parties to the Marudi Mediation Agreement to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes for the Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited, itinerant miners working on Marudi Mountain and South Rupununi Indigenous communities.

To date, most miners have moved to the new “landing” and the remaining few were given notice to follow likewise or face enforcement action.  The Ministry of Natural Resources and the GGMC have every reason to believe that there will be total compliance, the Ministry of Natural Resources noted.

“The area identified had been mutually agreed upon and all commitments made by the government to facilitate the move have been kept,” the Ministry stated.

In April 2016, the Government of Guyana through Minister of Natural Resources Honourable Raphael G.C. Trotman M.P., intervened in a standoff between small miners from the Marudi Mountain area, representatives of indigenous communities and Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited and facilitated a historic mediation process with the help of Major-General Joe Singh.

The successful mediation resulted in all parties signing the ‘Mediation of the Marudi Mountain Dispute Agreement’ that would guide future engagements to finalize a solution.

“The Ministry is thankful to those who have responded positively to Government’s request to operate within the ambit of the law and takes the opportunity to assure these persons that they will be granted first priority to benefit from alternative land allocations; currently being identified to facilitate their mining activities.”