Miners attacked, excavator, ATV stolen in Kariako – GGDMA

…says Chinese Landing residents, leadership armed with guns, cutlasses attacked mining crew

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is calling for the immediate arrest and investigation of persons allegedly involved in an attack on a mining crew operating in Kariako Village, Region One (Barima-Waini) during which an excavator and an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) were reportedly stolen. In a statement issued on Friday, the association said several employees of mining operator Wayne Vieira were injured during the incident, which occurred on Thursday and are receiving urgent medical attention.

According to the GGDMA, about 15 persons from Chinese Landing Village travelled more than 13 kilometres (km) to Kariako, where the mining crew was working with the permission of the village’s Toshao, Collis Samuels. The association alleged that the group confronted the excavator operator, identified as Eon Perry, while he and other employees were working in the area. Among those identified by the GGDMA were Chinese Landing Toshao Nikita Miller, Cleveland Pearson, Oral Fernandes and Selwyn Miller, who the association said is the brother of Nikita Miller.

The GGDMA claimed that Miller was armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, while Fernandes also carried a firearm. Other members of the group allegedly had cutlasses and pieces of wood. According to the association, Miller pointed the shotgun at the excavator operator and demanded that he turn the machine around and return to the Barama River. It further alleged that another member of the group struck the excavator several times with a cutlass.

Fearing for his safety, the operator reportedly complied. However, the GGDMA claimed that the group subsequently threatened him again, demanded the excavator keys and took both the excavator and an ATV to Chinese Landing.

The association said Perry and another man later travelled to Chinese Landing to retrieve the equipment but were again threatened with a firearm before being chopped. It further alleged that the attackers turned on other persons connected to the mining camp and attempted to kill them.

Law must apply equally

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has confirmed that the incident involved armed threats, the forcible removal of an excavator and the wounding of a mining company employee. The GGDMA also claimed that efforts to evacuate the injured miners by aircraft were disrupted when persons allegedly blocked and damaged the airstrip as the aircraft attempted to land, creating a risk of an accident.

A helicopter was subsequently used to transport assistance to another landing location, the association said. The miners’ association is urging the Police Force to deploy a unit to the area and arrest those responsible, warning that the dispute has escalated into violence. It also called on the Government, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the police to ensure that mining laws and court orders are enforced. The association said the latest incident is linked to a longstanding dispute between Miller and Vieira over mining operations at Tassiwini Backdam.

According to the GGDMA, the matter was previously taken to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which ruled in favour of Vieira. The association said the court had noted that Vieira was prevented from exercising his lawful mining rights while unauthorised mining continued on his concessions, resulting in environmental damage and the loss of royalties to the State. The GGDMA further alleged that illegal mining activities have continued despite the court’s decision and that restrictions have been placed on Vieira’s access to his mining property. It claimed that the latest confrontation represents an escalation of tensions, with the alleged attackers travelling into a neighbouring village to confront the mining crew.

The association maintained that all miners must be allowed to exercise their lawful rights and urged the authorities to intervene before further violence occurs.

It said the rule of law must apply equally to everyone and called for decisive police action to prevent further bloodshed. Meanwhile, Chinese Landing Toshao Nikita Miller in a live Facebook video claimed that it was the miners who attacked her and residents. She also claimed that the community was “under siege.” The GPF is yet to issue a statement on the incident.