This party of happy faces finally reached Imbaimadai via the Mazaruni River
The Amerindian village of Imbaimadai could enter a new era in gold production with miners investing in excavators to locate deposits. The area was very rich in gold about one generation ago and the small miners with basic porknocking skills were able to extract gold near the village. Today, with most of the lands close to the homestead exhausted, miners are forced to push deeper into the mountains and jungle to find the mineral.
There is an air of expectation that the arriving ‘Charlies’ (excavators) would rejuvenate the community, giving the eager miner an easier and more efficient way of locating gold and increasing production. During a recent trip to the Imbaimadai Landing, this publication caught up with a few coastlanders who have been living within the interior location, which is about an hour’s flight from Ogle in the jungles of the Upper Mazaruni region.
Among the pioneers of mining in this area is Harpaul Persaud, 67, who explained that while he was an adventurous youth, he traversed Guyana’s interior in search of wealth. He touched down at Imbaimadai, whose peacefulness and clean air he loves, in 1967, and after leaving on two occasions, he decided to settle in 1975. He worked his way up from backbreaking jobs in the sandpits, and in 1986 he established a shop, then fortified his mining operations.
“Now as you know, when you take out something it’s not there again. And it’s very difficult now we have to get more improved machinery to do this work; it cost a lot of money… and then you got to go far in this jungle in search for gold. Years ago, you coulda tek lil’ diesel and gasoline and go you gon find gold and diamond.”
The excavator arriving after a seven-week journey
He has invested in bringing excavators to the area, but it is yet to bear the expected fruits and the operational costs have been climbing since the only reliable form of transportation is by air from Ogle.
The price per pound on either Air Services or Trans Guyana flights is around Gy$ 155. Currently, there are about eight excavators working in Imbaimadai. On Thursday last, when another was spotted sailing on a pontoon down the Mazaruni River, there was nothing but glee on the faces of the miners down at the waterfront. That journey was long, treacherous, and exciting for the most part. Three excavators, a tractor, a frontend loader and a boat were transported into the community.
The owners of these machines have paid millions to transport the equipment to the Upper Mazaruni. On board the vessel that left Parika Stelling on February 8 were miner Joseph Charles and a business partner, Nick D ‘Ollivera.
Their aim was to ensure an excavator reached Imbaimadai safely so that the anxious group of small miners who have invested well over Gy$ 7 million to transport the machine could transform their operations and find more gold.
Both men spoke extensively about the experience along the waterway, the majestic falls encountered, high elevations which the machine had to trek on land while the barge slowly made its way past waterfalls and dangerous rapids.
Most times, the water level was too low and the party of travellers had to stop and pray for rain. At one point, they had to wait at one location for nearly two weeks before moving on because the river was too low. A journey which should have lasted two weeks dragged for seven weeks before the first excavator reached the destination. When this publication left the landing, the transporter was on his way to pick up the second machine.
Pooling of resources
The investment is significant and for the group of miners, who partnered with local preacher Orin Greene, to bring in the excavator, this could be the breakthrough they have been looking for.
Greene, family members and other brethren from his congregation pooled their resources together to seal an arrangement with the owner of an excavator to explore the lands allotted to them. But the hard work in the pits sometimes has disappointing results.
One of the partners in this operation, Charles (only name given) related that mining runs deep in his family and he has been working the mines in Imbaimadai since he was a youngster.
Currently, the volume of gold extracted from the ground is small compared to the volume mined years ago. If it were not for a good price, the cost of living would have stifled the entire community. “When I first came up, more gold used to be worked than now… we may not be getting the amount of gold, but the price of gold right now is balancing out back things… gold used to be less than Gy$ 30,000 an ounce; today, the last time I heard [it] is over $ 300,000 per ounce,” Charles related.
Improving mining practices
Meanwhile, Charles said among the matters that need urgent addressing is the tightening of mining practices. He said the refilling of pits created and reforestation are major bugbears.
According to Charles, these activities are not happening at Imbaimadai, but it was just a matter of time before the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission clamped down on these miners. There are about eight excavators in the area now, but finding gold is still tough and most miners believe that one has to have luck and pure intentions before gold is found. So deep in the jungle, scores of miners continue to knock trees down and dig to find the next big deposit in Imbaimadai. Imbaimadai is about 149 miles from Ogle situated deep in the Upper Mazaruni River, Region Seven.
There is a primary school, two churches, a police station, a hospital, and a GGMC building where a warden who ensures that mining is done properly and legally resides. At present, malaria is not a prevalent illness but it could become a matter of concern as the area develops.
Like all mining communities, the night life is bubbling with excitement, but could end on a sour note for a pleasure-seeking miner who awakes in the morning to discover he was ripped off during the night by his female companion.
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