Women miners organisation has aggressive approach to building capacity of members

Dear Editor, We refer to the letter `The GWMO is unconstitutional’ in the September 27 edition of Kaieteur News.

The writer alleges that our organization is vacationing on donor funding. The Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) refutes this slanderous claim. Our funding is solely for the development of our projects and not the personal use of our members. We hereby inform the writer and the general public that nine of our members were beneficiaries of various empowerment conferences, fellowships and workshops during the month of September.

Contrary to the malicious allegations, Ms. Alandia Powers of the GWMO’s Mining Committee, was selected to participate in the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI) ASM Fellowship in Yukon and Vancouver, Canada. CIRDI undertakes work with in-country partners to offer education and training for governments and affected populations with the goal of transforming artisanal mining into a safe, secure and sustainable form of economic activity, capable of generating shared local prosperity; fully sponsored by CIRDI.

Mrs. Marina Charles was selected as a speaker at the ‘Safe 2018: Third Global Conference on Human Trafficking: Implementing Innovative Solutions.’ She was also a beneficiary of their Training-of-Trainers Program. Her sponsorship was arranged by Safe Chicago.

Ms. Paula Bastiani and Ms. Karni Paton were both selected from our five members who applied for the International Conference on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining and Quarrying, (ASM18) in Zambia. They were exposed to a number of possibilities for women in the mining operation. Our representatives’ training included: Conflict financing and illicit financial flows within the mineral supply chain, occupational and community health and safety, gender and youth, human rights, child labor, migration, ASM and the development Nexus, ASM data and statistic, quarry management and productivity. Ms. Bastiani also graced the stage during the aforementioned conference to participate in a panel discussion on women in mining. Both participants were fully sponsored by the organizing agencies.

Ms. Sheffield Douglas, of our Social Services Committee, was selected by Vital Voices to become a fellow on their Global Freedom Exchange. The programme is a multi-faceted impact-oriented approach to empowering women leaders; specifically leaders who are at the forefront of global initiatives to prevent and respond to human trafficking.

Ms. Reisa Roberts was selected to participate and present at the 15th International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference in Toledo, Ohio. Her participation was fully sponsored by the Guyana Industrial Mineral Inc. She was joined by Mrs. Marion Shepherd whose travel was sponsored by the United States Embassy in Guyana.

Closing off our outstanding empowerment drive in September 2018, Mrs. Belina Charlie and Mrs. Quyanna Elliott concluded their International Women in Mining Mentorship Program (IWRMP) in London, England. This programme was geared at creating a network for women in mining amongst other functions. Ms. Charlie selffunded her participation, while Mrs. Elliott was fully sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources, by way of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. Mrs. Elliott’s sponsorship is the sole contribution from government to our organization.

The writer appears to be an avid observer of our members and has placed special attention on their movements. In light of the baseless callous statements, we seek to provide the writer with enlightenment; what you are witnessing is an aggressive approach to building the capacity of our members. Simply put, the Guyana Women Miners Organisation has been making unwavering efforts to empower women who are placed in positions to empower more women. All of the successful applicants have emerged victorious through global competitive processes and were chosen based on the work that we have executed and validated. Our local, as well as, global participation and representation of the mining industry is a testament to our active role in the mining industry.

In the near future, we will also have members travelling to participate in the Trust Conference, as well as, to receive a prestigious mining award. Again, not vacations nor are these participations made possible through the misuse of donor funding.

Further, as the writer may be aware in May 2018 we rescued a young man who was allegedly imprisoned in a pen by his father for ten years. From May to present we have expended over one million dollars funding his rehabilitation. We have given this item top priority over other pressing obligations.

The Executive Committee of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation was constitutionally elected by our General Membership. Our Executive Committee comprises of women with a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge. Our president not only grew up in a family of miners, and played key roles in the management of those operations, but also was a former mining operation owner. Our 1st Vice President, Ms. Donna Charles, has a wealth of experience and knowledge in large scale mining, our 2nd Vice President, Ms. Joan Williams has in excess of 20 years in the mining industry and our Executive Secretary, Mrs. Marina Charles, has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry. With these strong women in mining at the head of our Executive, we need not expound more on the point that we remain genuinely committed to the development of women in mining. We welcome the writer to contest during our next elections on November 4th 2018, should she/he be interested in joining us as we aid in the development and protection of our country, Guyana.

In an effort to not be repetitive, we wish to refer the writer to our January 17th 2018 response on our accomplishments from 2015 to early 2018. Being considerate to other writers we will highlight three of our most recent initiatives/projects. The GWMO has been distributing generators to hinterland schools with feeding programmes, as well as, clinics and health centres facing difficulties with electricity. To date some of our beneficiaries include: Imbaimadai Health Clinic, Chinawoeing Clinic, Wax Creek Clinic, Imbaimadai Primary School, Kartabo Primary School, Karrau Primary School, Batavia Primary School, Itaballi School, Holy Name Primary, Arau Health Centre, Kurutuku Health Centre, all schools and clinics at 47 and 58 Miles Mabura, as well as, Grace Falls, Matthews Ridge Primary School, Canal Bank Turu Mission Health Centre, Falls Stop Health Centre, 4 Miles Health Centre, Moco Moco Clinic, Pai Pong Primary School, Taushida Primary School, Kaicumbay Feeding Programme, Achiwib Health Centre and School, Bashairum Primary School, Mahdia Primary School, Kimbia Health Centre, Linden Health Centre, Kabakaburi Primary School, De Veldt Primary, Kwakwani Waterfront School, Sandhills Primary, and Hururu Primary; to name a few. We still have more generators available for community assistance and interested communities can feel free to contact us on 2236978.

Yours faithfully, Urica Primus for Executive Committee Guyana Women Miners Organisation