Ninety-four foreign miners were recently detained for breaking a range of mining regulations during an exercise dubbed “Operation El Dorado”.
This Guyana Geology and Mines Commission photo show some of the damage done to the environment due to illegal mining
Following the arrests of the foreigners, several of them Brazilians, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud; GGMC Board of Directors Chairman Major General (retired), Joseph Singh and other senior officers of the government met with a high-level delegation from the State of Roraima, Brazil.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, Minister Persaud pointed out that the operation is intended to target illegal mining and other unregulated mining activities. He advised the meeting that a large number of Brazilians were caught engaging in illegal mining activities.
However, the high level team is welcomed to examine a joint effort to ensure Brazilian miners are registered and engaged in sustainable mining activities and comply with national laws. Government values the friendship of its southern neighbour and the investments made by Brazilians in Guyana, Minister Persaud added.
The team – which included Deputy Francisco Xingu, president of the Commission Assembly Legislative Roraima of Human Rights; Deputy Francisco de Sales Guerra Neto, president of Assembly Legislative of Roraima State; Deputy Cornel Chagas, member of public service and security – and Guyana Consul General to Boa Vista Leila King agreed to work closely with the government of Guyana and the Brazilian embassy to provide necessary support to Brazilians to regularise their activities.
During April 10-15, “Operation El Dorado” was carried out in the Puruni area, Region Seven. The operation involved inspection of mining camps and operations to determine the status of the property being worked; verification of mining privileges and certificates of registration for persons employed; inspection of the requisite documentation, including dredge licences and production books; sanitation, environmental and occupational health and safety compliance. Also, the Guyana Police Force’s Tactical Services Unit team checked for guns, ammunition, and drugs, while an immigration team checked the status of foreign workers.
The operation resulted in the detention of a total of 94 foreign miners who breached mining, environment, and immigration laws. In most cases, these workers had no work permits and no certificate of registration and in some cases, expired visas. In addition, 32 local miners breached the mining regulations.
Additionally, two river-based operations breached the ‘cease work’ order and continued working the river banks which is prohibited according to mining regulations.
Gold production records were also incomplete and in some cases non-existent, and mining on prospecting permit and prospecting licence property occurred contrary to the regulations.
The Guyana Police Force discovered an illegal firearm. A quantity of raw gold that was illegally obtained was seized. The GGMC is being supported by the GPF in the ongoing ‘Operation El Dorado’. Further, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has been urging the authorities to step up its campaign on illegal mining.
Comments are closed.