Major player interested in bauxite industry - PM confirms Stabroek News December 25, 2000 The government is entertaining the interest of a world player in the bauxite market for Linmine and Bermine and Prime Minister Sam Hinds on Friday said the government intends to continue its quest for an alliance in the new year. Hinds said most of the international players did not want their business discussed in the media and as such he is not at liberty to disclose who was interested or what form the interest in the local bauxite industry is taking. However, Hinds said that the government will continue to support the industry and pursue opportunities for alliances and collaboration to improve the situation in the bauxite sector locally. "We have not ruled out privatisation as we have to look for ways to bring about a better position to the industry," Hinds said. While the government in 1999 managed to attract prospective bidders to the bauxite industry, despite several extensions to the privatisation process it has not been able to secure many bids. Glencore International, a bauxite firm out of the US, had afterwards expressed interest but Hinds said Glencore has not come back to keep its interest boiling. He is not sure if the company is talking to the workers grouping which has put in a bid for Bermine. The government is seeking alliances for both Bermine and Linmine which have not been doing well in recent years. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today