Mahdia residents complain...

The overlapping of a boundary which is now before the court was the subject of an extensive discussion at the meeting. At the end of the meeting, Trotman urged the parties involved to work for an amicable solution.

Toshao of Micobie, John Andrews lamented that most of his community’s titled lands have been issued to miners. The Minister advised Andrews that the law states that no mining can take place on their land without the Toshao and the Village Council’s permission. Trotman also said that President David Granger has ordered a Land Commission to be established by March to review all lands, both ancestral and leased.

“We will ensure that there is lands for pork knockers, land for everybody just to reassure you. This is the national patrimony of Guyana and everybody has a right to it,” Trotman said, according to the release.

On Friday, discussions are expected to continue in Georgetown when the Natural Resources Ministry hosts a gathering for small-miners at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.