Ministry to seek explanation on reports of burning of mining properties at Quartz Stone
The Ministry of Natural Resources has responded to yet another social media post which targets Minister responsible for youth, Simona Broomes.
In a statement last evening the Ministry refuted claims that it was aware of “dismantling and burning of properties in Quartz Stone, Cuyuni Region 7.”
The post which originated from an online entity claiming to represent the “Guyanese people” claimed that the Government of Guyana, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) evicted a number of small businesses on the Quartz Stone landing.
Specifically it claims that the Commission dismantled and burned “business owners property leaving only Minister Brooms [sic] camp.”
They go on to claim that hundreds of Guyanese are now jobless and stranded on the landing as they have no money to pay transportation out of the backdam.
“There’s no way for them to come to the city to seek refuge as many of them lived at the Quartz Stone location almost their entire life. With food supplies they had in their shop almost depleted as the GGMC officials seized whatever stock they had in the shop and night fast approaching with nowhere to camp tonight the citizens are pleading on Human Rights organizations to send help,” the post went on to claim.
In its response the Ministry maintained that it had “no prior knowledge neither involvement in this activity and is baffled that the social media outlet would indicate such.”
Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has however requested an urgent and detailed explanation from GGMC regarding its alleged involvement in this operation.
“The MNR strongly advises against the issuing of such statements seeking impugn the standing of the Ministry and the Government of Guyana both of which are committed to working with the citizens of the country in the most peaceful way possible to achieve the visions for the natural resources sector,” the statement concludes. This is the second time the Ministry has responded to a similar post.
Two weeks ago it condemned as “baseless and mischievous” an online report which claimed that the son of Minister Broomes had been issued mining lands as “repayment” for her remaining in government.
The report which emanated from one of several online “News/Media” companies which have appeared for the current elections season identified a recent extraordinary gazette in which was published the Prospecting Permit Medium Scale (PPMS) Exemption Order 2019.
The Order lists nine individuals and organizations awarded mining lands as part of the Mining Syndicate Initiative (MSI) begun in 2017. The lands granted these individuals are according to the order exempt from the application procedures mentioned in the Mining Act of 1989 and the regulations made thereunder for the issuance of Medium Scale Prospecting Permit.
Included in those names is that of a Troy Broomes and Searomanee Parasram of the Central Mahdia Mining Association.
The online report accuses Troy Broomes whom it identifies as the son of Minister Simona Broomes and Joseph of benefitting for an alleged massive giveaway of state lands by the APNU+AFC government.
However according to the Ministry, the Troy Broomes who has been issued lands is not the Minister’s son.
“[He] is a bona fide and legitimate miner, who, along with Mr. Parasaram and others, made an application in early 2017 to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to be granted access to mining lands as part of the Mining Syndicates Initiative (MSI),” a statement from the Ministry explained.
It further notes that the application, along with others from various Syndicates, was processed and approved once all the legal and procedural criteria were met.
“The application by the Central Mahdia Mining Association was given no special treatment or consideration and qualified for 10 mining blocks as per Government’s policy. Further, at no time was Minister Broomes involved in any of the decisionmaking processes for this mining application,” the statement stressed.
The Ministry has called on that entity which describes itself as “here to expose and denounce the illegal APNU+AFC government which seeks to hold on to power at all costs” to publish “a total retraction of this reckless and irresponsible story, which can only be intended to create confusion and disharmony within the society.”