Guyana Chronicle
June 5, 2001

THE Joint Bauxite Committee (JBC) is on schedule with its work and plans to submit its final report on the Alcoa concept paper to President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte by Saturday, one week ahead of its one-month deadline.

The Joint Committee, which was established after agreement was reached between President Jagdeo and Mr. Hoyte during their one-on-one talks recently, is headed by Co-Chairmen, Dr. Clive Thomas and Mr. Robeson Benn.

The committee also comprises Mr. Lance Carberry, Mr. Kim Kissoon, Mr. Odinga Lumumba, Mr. Herman Rohlehr (Mr. Claude Saul - Alternate) and Mr. Ron Webster.

In a statement yesterday, the JBC said it began its work on May 16 at the head office of the Bauxite Industry Development Company Ltd (BIDCO), Queenstown, Georgetown, with assistance from resource person Mr. Julian Archer.

The committee is mandated to examine the current state of the bauxite industry, including the bauxite communities, explore various options for its resuscitation, and within three months of convening, make recommendations designed to ensure the optimal sustainable viability of the industry, including its contribution to the well-being of the Guyanese people, within the shortest possible time.

It is also mandated to examine a concept paper from the American Alcoa firm for a restructured Berbice Mining Enterprise (Bermine) and the Aroaima Bauxite Company (ABC), proposed to the Guyana Government for consideration, and submit a final report within a month.

The JBC said that to effectively complete its work in keeping with its mandate, it began reviewing pertinent financial, operating and other information on ABC and Bermine and thereafter invited presentations from various stakeholders and other persons associated with the bauxite industry, and a few experts.

It said this was part of a brainstorming exercise to generate ideas and opinions that could assist the committee in its conclusions and deliberations, particularly with respect to the urgent Alcoa proposal.

The committee has since met the Privatisation Unit, Bermine, the Trades Union Congress, the Aroaima Mining Company, Mr. Raymond Gaskin, Mr. Peter Cummings, Dr. Grantley Walrond, Mr. Sylvester Carmichael and Mr. Patrick DeFreitas.

Visits were also made to the Aroaima mine site and Bermine's Kwakwani operations where discussions were held with managers, workers and the general bauxite communities.

The committee will also be briefing members of the media today.