GGMC is looking to stab Natural Resources Ministry in the back – Miner

[www.inewsguyana.com] – One miner is alleging that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is not in total support of the Ministry of Natural Resources and is only looking for ways to stab the Ministry in the back.

These allegations were made by Proprietor of Lenray’s Investment, Raymond Alli, during a meeting with sand/loam pit operators at Splashmins, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara on Saturday January 11.

The man made the allegations in the presence of Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud. The Miner told the gathering that he has the facts to support what he said.

“The Ministry is not respected. The GGMC mean to kill that agency. I could tell you openly…I have my facts, I can give it to you; write it on paper or verbally, I can tell you Sir openly and if we cannot get this right, nothing will go right, nothing,” Alli said to Minister Persaud.

The miner further alleged that the GGMC is out to embarrass the Natural Resources Minister, as he also bemoaned the attitude of senior officers at both the GGMC and the Lands and Surveys Commission.

Meanwhile, in response, Minister Persaud said that the GGMC should not be blamed for the actions of a few officers.

“We must not take the actions and inactions also of a few and pin it on an organization. Any organization, any business and any family will have persons who will not live up to the expectation, it’s a natural thing and we have the same situation in many of our agencies including the GGMC, whereby you may have officers who may not perform to the best of their ability,” the Natural Resources Minister noted.

He further explained that he has made it quite clear to the agency that they have no choice but to operate in accordance with the laws of Guyana.

“I have made it quite clear to the GGMC and I don’t see it as a conflict, there is no other choice. There are the laws of Guyana and the GGMC has to operate under the Mining Act and the Miners’ Regulations and no Officer or no entity or agency operates outside of that ambit of the law,” Minister Persaud told the meeting.