Claim Jumping At Nine Miles, Potaro

Mine Commission Closes Mineral-Rich Area

THE Geology and Mines Commission has had to enlist the Tactical Services Unit to maintain law and order at Nine Miles, Potaro, a potentially-rich mining area which has been closed by the Commission owing to alleged mis-management by the claim holders and sub-contractors.

It all started, according to Geology and Mines Commissioner Dr. G.W. Walrond, when the original claim-holders decided as is the practice, to sublet parts of their claim to some other miners. The situation eventually veered out of control with several unauthorised miners joining in the gold rush forcing the Commission to place a cease - work order until the situation returns to normal.

The Nine Miles issue has led to an uncomfortable relationship between the Miners’ Association and the Commission. The Association is claiming on the one hand that the authorities are slow in making a decision regarding a lifting of the ceasework order or in awarding the claim to a new set of miners, while the Commission is saying on the other, that it must observe all legal processes and give the holders a hearing before a decision is taken.

A Miners’ Association spokesman said, however, that there is evidence that the Commission is mismanaging the situation and allowing it to get out of hand. Raiders are making themselves a pocket-full in the meanwhile, despite the presence of more than a dozen armed policemen. The “freefor-all” which has developed as a result of the closure of the mining area has led to an increase in the number of unauthorised persons in the area, some of them criminals and prostitutes, the association reports.