Despite numerous commitments by the Government since December 2018, to date, no concrete steps have been taken to resolve the issue of the dragga in Parabara Village in the South Rupununi.
In December of 2018, the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) informed the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission of its concern over the dragga being constructed in the Village of Parabara. At the time, the SRDC demanded that the dragga be dismantled, but the GGMC cited a lack of authority to act unless the dragga began to operate. Since then, the dragga has been built and begun to move down the river, and we are deeply concerned that it will imminently begin river mining operations in our territory, given the amount of fuel that has just been carried down for it.
The SRDC appreciates the efforts the Government has taken thus far to ensure that the dragga will not operate and cause destruction to our environment. In May 2019, Cabinet took a decision to refuse permission for the dragga to operate. Major General Joseph Singh informed us that H.E. President Granger has declared that this Government shall enforce the order issued in 2008 and not allow any mining in the tributaries of and the Essequibo River south of the 4th Parallel. In June 2019, the GGMC issued an Order to Remove the dragga by June 14, 2019 (see image of the order below). The Minister of Natural Resources has additionally committed to the protection of important headwaters in the South Rupununi.
It is thus with the gravest concern that we report that in spite of these orders and decisions, the dragga has yet to be removed. A 14-inch cutterhead dredge could only be built with one purpose – to engage in river mining which contravenes a government order and Cabinet decision. The SRDC urges the GGMC and MNR to take immediate action, including forfeiture and seizure, which is authorized under the Mining Act, Sections 100-103. Immediate enforcement action must be taken to enforce the decisions and orders of the government as well as to ensure the government’s commitment to the protection of important headwaters in the South Rupununi.
Just a week ago, officers from GGMC informed the SRDC that fuel was taken in to where the dragga was located, so as to have it return to the landing at Parabara where it was constructed.
On September 8, 2019 the SRDC received information that the dragga moved further down along the river with a pontoon carrying almost 400 drums of fuel for the operations of the dragga. After receiving this information, the SRDC sent in its monitoring team to verify that indeed the dragga was returning. However, the SRDC has received confirmed reports from its monitoring team that the dragga has indeed moved further down river.
On the 6th September 2019 the Government of Guyana signed the “Leticia Pact For The Amazon Region committing to, among others, “to establish regional cooperation mechanisms …to combat illegal activities threatening the conservation of the Amazon Region”; “strengthen the mechanisms that support and promote sustainable use of forests”; and “strengthening capacities and participation of Indigenous peoples..in the sustainable development of the Amazon Region, acknowledging their fundamental role in the conservation of the region”.
The South Rupununi communities have committed to contribute to the protection of our sacred Amazonian forests, a part of which forms Wapichan traditional lands. These very lands are the source of fresh water that feeds into our mighty Essequibo and supports extremely fragile ecosystems. In a time when other parts of the Amazon are being destroyed on a scale of apocalyptic proportions, Guyana has a chance to step up and lead the way on helping the world heal its ecological scars. The SRDC commits to continuing to work with the GGMC, MNR, and the EPA in protecting our environment and dealing with issues that are in breach of mining and environmental laws and regulations.
The reports of our monitoring team indicate that the dragga operator is openly defying the order of a GGMC officer, a 2008 governmental order, and a decision of Cabinet. The SRDC therefore urgently demands that the GGMC and other relevant government agencies take immediate and appropriate actions to address this extremely alarming situation and to enforce its own laws, orders, and commitments.