No one was forced to sign mediated agreement between Romanex and Marudi miners

Dear Editor,

The Ministry of Natural Resources would like to point out the inaccuracies contained in the article ‘Small-scale miners barred from mining in Marudi’, which appeared in the Guyana Times and posted on I-News on December 24, 2016. The facts are: 1. Following a meeting with miners and residents of South Rupununi that was held in Aishalton Village in March 2016, it was agreed to have a meeting to mediate the differences between the miners, Romanex Inc and residents of South Rupununi. The mediation was conducted in May 2016 with

Maj Gen (rtd) Joe Singh as mediator. All sides were present and agreed to the terms and signed to this effect. There is a written agreement. The Minister of Natural Resources was never intended, or expected, to be the mediator, but only to facilitate the meeting which was done at great expense to government.

2. No one was forced or bullied to sign the mediated agreement as was falsely reported.

3. Romanex agreed to accommodate miners who had been mining without permission and to date 85% have been addressed. Some refuse to comply.

4. In November 2016, in Lethem, a meeting was convened by a team comprising representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Closed Area Committee, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Women Miners Association, to address issues arising out of the implementation of the agreement. Present were miners, shop owners, toshaos and representatives of Romanex Inc ‒ miners who were not accommodated by Romanex Inc were encouraged to take up available mining lands. Application forms were openly distributed at the meeting and many have since submitted their applications; these are being processed for early allocation.

5. The story referenced above is factually untrue and is mischievously designed to foment division and discord amongst miners, and between miners and government.

6. Miners are encouraged to ignore these attempts to create confusion and to continue to go along with the process; this being the mediated and most beneficial one for all concerned parties. Yours faithfully, N Johann Earle Public Affairs and Communications Officer Ministry of Natural Resources