[www.inewsguyana.com] – The important role that a partnership forged among all stakeholders in the mining sector can play in developing the sector was emphasised on Thursday (November 21) at the opening of Macorp’s, Port Kaituma branch.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud lauded the company for its $20M investment and challenged them, along with other suppliers, to offer integrated solutions in keeping with responsible mining practices and regulations.
“If you want mining to stay, progress and to be efficient, you must also ensure that it is done in accordance with our laws, our regulations, and also with good mining practices so an integrated solution must run the entire gamut that are concerned and connected with responsible mining,” he stated.
In years to come, Minister Persaud said that persons must be able to look at the Port Kaituma community as one which has presented and demonstrated itself as an organised and responsible mining area.
The role of equipment suppliers can expand to ensure that gear sold is used in a responsible manner within the ambit of mining sector regulations, said the minister.
“I know for example that excavators are now coming with GPS technology, where you can sit down at Providence, and we are hoping that some point in time that you can share that with us too, whereby you know where the excavators are…and if we are able to use that information and map them, we’ll be able to know whether they’re working on properties that have been awarded to the individuals or whether they’re encroaching.”
Addressing some of the challenges facing the mining sector, Minister Persaud said that after numerous complaints about illegal mining, the decision was taken to hold lotteries to award claims to those who were without. Another lottery in the Region One area will be held early in 2014, he added.
The opening of the Macorp branch in the Region One community was described by Chief Executive Officer Jorge Medina as reflective of the company’s aim of “Providing integrated solutions” for the local mining sector. They included not only sales and services, but also advice and solutions that add value for users of its equipment. Medina noted that with Macorp’s approach, there would be less down time as its services would now be based in the community and this would result in more productivity.
He added that the company is looking at technology, which is already available, to remotely track and diagnose equipment via satellite uplinks so as to provide even better service in the future.
Product Support Manager Guillermo Escarraga in brief remarks said the branch is also an indication of the company’s commitment to the mining sector and its desire to become partners with miners.
Macorp has trained operators and mechanics over the years, and more than 200 completed the training courses provided by them in 2012 alone, he added.
