Gold syndicates ready to get to work
What had appeared for several months to have been sharp differences between the Ministry of Natural Resources and representatives of mining syndicates over land allocation that had effectively stalled the commencement of work by the country’s first group of gold-mining cooperatives now appears to have come to an end following an encounter between the miners and Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman.
Earlier this week Stabroek Business learnt in an extended interview with Chairman of the National Mining Syndicates organization Renwick Solomon, that differences over the allocation of mining lands to syndicates had been settled and that he was prepared to say that a point had been reached where the twelve syndicates that have already been registered are readying themselves to begin work. Solomon told Stabroek Business that he believed that the formal activation of syndicates marked a “historic point” in the life of the mining industry since what it effectively signalled was that a way had been opened for small miners to take “real advantage” of the industry.
Stabroek Business has learnt that the controversy that had delayed the commencement of syndicate mining for several months had arisen out of a view emanating from inside the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission that syndicates should be restricted to allocations of ten mining blocks, a position which syndicate members had rejected. Sources in the mining sector had told this newspaper that the tenblock limit was being pushed by GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison. The differences of opinion led to sharp exchanges of views which reportedly led to calls by some syndicate members, all experienced miners, for the removal of Dennison from office.
Following the intervention of Minister Trotman and what this newspaper understands was a frank and open encounter with the syndicate members, it now transpires that the ten-block idea has been set aside. Based on an agreement reached between the Minister and the miners what now obtains is the removal of the cap