Mining Syndicates agree to keep Parish Peak reserved

Mining syndicates have decided to drop their demands for concessions at Parish Peak, Upper Demerara after it was confirmed that there is no evidence of mining currently occurring in the area, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The Ministry explained that, as part of efforts to resolve outstanding issues between the government and the national mining syndicates, it sponsored an observatory mission to Parish Peak on Saturday after concerns were repeated about the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman’s refusal to permit mining in the area.

The area was declared as “reserved” by the government because of its rich and unspoiled biodiversity. Further, members of the Berbice Mining Syndicate had alleged that there was mining already taking place in the area; despite the insistence of the Ministry that this was definitely not so.

The Ministry said all parties unanimously agreed that indeed there were no mining activities currently happening in the area and that it is indeed in pristine condition and should remain so. Minister Trotman reaffirmed that the area will remain as is unless otherwise directed by Cabinet or the Head of State.

The flight route covered areas including Checkpoint, Camp Charabaru, Bridge, Cannister Falls, Northern Block Start and Southern Block Finish, the MakariMountains and river and the Kuruduni River.
Members of the team that visited included Minister Trotman; Shondell France and Luanne Nero of the Guyana Forestry Commission ((GFC); Tamara Gilhuys and Kareem Parris of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Land Management and Mines Division respectively; Roy Kingston and Renwick Solomon of the National Mining Syndicate, Vasquez Ramdas of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), and Calvin Bernard of the Technical Committee Rapid Assessment of the Upper Demerara Area.

According to the statement, the Ministry said it is committed to supporting miners in their quest to pursue mining in adherence to the laws and regulations that govern the sector and will continue to resist efforts designed to breed distrust and frustrate the positive steps that are being made.