One day after reports in State media suggested that quarry operators owed over G$8million in royalties to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for last year, Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes openly criticised elected Local Government officials in the Bartica Town Council for their handling of the sector in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) missive, the minister called for greater compliance in the quarrying sector. However, in the same vein, she ordered Acting Mines Manager Krishna Ramdass to issue a cease order to the Durban Quarries company.
According to reports, the company showed the “most glaring instances of non-compliance” in safety practices, where the company “failed to correct unsafe mining practices despite notices by the GGMC a month ago to do so”.
The cease work order followed Minister Broomes and a GGMC team conducting impromptu inspections at quarry operations in Region Seven.
Durban Quarries operated a stone quarry in the Mazaruni River. Manager of the quarry, Ravie (only name given), was quoted by the State media body as noting that efforts were being made to comply with the order, but efforts had been stalled by inclement weather. It was, however, disclosed by DPI that there were signs that mining is occurring despite rocks being precariously perched on the facing.
“This is safety… Is it because he [GGMC officer] was not forceful that there was no regard shown?” Minister Broomes asked the quarry manager.
Broomes, meanwhile, called on Acting Mines Manager Ramdass to ensure that the GGMC follows due process to enforce compliance. The Minister and GGMC staff also visited BK International Quarry, Baracara Quarries Incorporated, Durban Quarries, Toolsie Persaud Limited’s St Mary Quarry in the Essequibo River, and a sand pit in Five Miles, Potaro Road, Bartica.
It was observed that the Minister also recommended that a sand pit be closed at Five Miles, Bartica following “dangerous safety infraction” that was said to have occurred there.
“Men were shovelling sand from a sheer drop wall into the back of a truck despite signs of an unstable overburden. Minister Broomes and the GGMC officers immediately ordered the men to stop working, and the truck left the pit,” the DPI missive highlighted.
A credible source in the Region Seven district confirmed that the sand pit is managed by the Bartica Town Council.
“They have a system where people pay them for the removal of sand and loam,” the source pointed out.
However, DPI reported Broomes saying that operators at the sand pit previously ignored cease work orders issued by the GGMC over the last three years, She has declared that the authorities would have to correct things.
Minister Broomes said the Ministry and the GGMC will be engaging the Town Council to address their concerns.
