Haiti to revise laws on mining

HAITI’S new prime minister says his government is drafting legislation on a newly emerging mining industry to ensure the impoverished Caribbean nation reaps its fair share.

Laurent Lamothe said the legislation will be sent to parliament soon.

It will lay out rules apportioning royalties for the government and setting protections for the people and environment that could be affected by mines, he added.

The plans for the legislation come after a report last week that two mining companies had begun drilling in Haiti’s northeastern mountains.

They estimate that precious metals there are potentially worth $20-billion (about R166-billion).

Mining laws in Haiti haven’t been revised since 1976. — Sapa-ap