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The government has decisively suspended the permit for the controversial mining project in Aranaputa, Region Nine, prioritising environmental protection and citizen well-being.
In a recent statement, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat clarified that the permit was initially granted to the Aranaputa Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), not a Brazilian company.
The NDC partnered with Brazilian investors, a practice permitted under Guyana’s Mining Act. The minister stated, “I want to state clearly that our mining act states that medium- and small-scale mining cannot be done by non-nationals. I just want to make that very clear because there may be a misconception that this permit was given to a Brazilian investor. Rather, the special mining permit was given to the Aranaputa Neighbourhood Democratic Council.”
He continued, “Any local Guyanese, any local miner, can partner with a foreign investor in the small- and medium-scale sector, but the property or the permit must belong to the local or the Guyanese.”
He further explained that the initial issuing of the permit resulted from community engagement with the Aranaputa NDC. The NDC had written directly to the minister requesting permission to commence mining projects in the community.
In response, Minister Bharrat engaged the council in a meeting, where the majority favoured the project. Consequently, the government approved it with the intention of assisting in the community’s economic advancement.
However, the government actively considered concerns raised by regional officials, residents, and environmental activist agencies in the surrounding areas of the North Rupununi.
Following further meetings, the government suspended the permit, as mining could potentially cause significant damage to the surrounding area and affect residents’ livelihoods.
Providing further clarity on the situation, Minister Bharrat stated, “At that meeting, there was overwhelming support against mining in the North Rupununi. Almost everyone who spoke was against mining in the North Rupununi, citing the freshwater source, the fishing activities engaged in by Amerindian communities, and the vast wetland, as well as the interest in preserving these, which we as a government respect. As a result, we have suspended the special mining permit for the Aranaputa NDC.”
