…says Govt moulding mining industry with ‘death, corruption and frustration’
The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miner’s Association (GGDMA) has called for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to be launched into the death of a Brazilian miner.
The Association made this call via a strongly worded statement to the media on Wednesday.
It said it highly condemns the action of the Guyana Police Force, through the officers implicated in the shooting and has furthermore pointed out that a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) ought to be conducted.
The GGDMA said, “No one in the Government is doing anything to help miners, they are just applying pressure. We are demanding our respect… there seems to be no one in charge of the mining sector and the government is yet to articulate its policy on continued mining in Guyana”.
In addition, the body said “There is an increasing level of bullyism taking place and public officers are clearly operating outside the law without consequence… death, corruption and frustration are now the pillars on which the current government seems to be moulding the industry”.
The Association against this backdrop posited that “Mining is surely on the down turn and the blame for this lies squarely at the feet of the current government”.
It complained that is has now been more than three years since the Coalition government took office and the President is still refusing to meet with the largest private sector employer in the country.
“We will not take it anymore” the GGDMA pointed out.
Meanwhile, an autopsy conducted on the 37-year old miner’s body today suggested that he died as a result of a single gun-shot wound to his head. Reports are that the bullet entered the man’s head from the back and exited in front.
Police said that the miner, Estevão Marquês Costa, was shot from more than five feet away from the officer.
Two Police Officers have been taken into custody after they allegedly murdered the Brazilian miner in Puruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and attempted to get rid of the body on Saturday.
INews understands that the officers – a Subordinate and a Constable – who are stationed at the Kurupung Police Station, abandoned their post on Friday and reportedly left on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to patrol the area but for some reason left their jurisdiction and via a boat went to a landing in Puruni.
Upon their arrival there, the Police Constable reportedly exited the boat and went to a shop a short distance from the landing while his subordinating officer reportedly waited in the boat.
Soon after a loud explosion was heard where the other officer came into contact with the Constable who related that the miner discharged a round at him and in retaliation, he returned fire.
Two other officers who were in the area investigating another matter turned up at the scene and reportedly took possession of the .30 carbine rifle which was used by the Constable.
