Stabroek News
May 20, 2001

"The Omai spill was a good thing," remarked David Singh at the Institute of Applied Science and Technology, U.G., "in that it was a watershed for us. We were made aware of what we can do to the environment."

The environmental concerns over the practices of large- and small-scale gold mining have grown steadily over the last decade. International pressures on developing countries to toe the line, it seems, above making ends meet, have created tension here between the need for sustainable development and the short- and long- term need for economic gain.

To criticise openly the environmental practices of the gold mining industry is becoming increasingly difficult, what was once the rallying cry of millions across the globe has had to realign itself alongside the constraints on resources available in the developing world for environmental monitoring and awareness training.

"Since 1992," Prime Minister Sam Hinds stated, "I have been saying we have got to move to the point where there is no dirty water going in any stream.

"Mercury is another area we are working on," he continued. "We are shifting people from heating the amalgam in the open to using retorts."

However, beyond this intention lies the reality that Guyanese need to make a living, and the very real pressures on the government to increase production, develop natural resources as well as remove the imperfections.

"Finally people have to live," Hinds declared. "We must find a way to do it [mine] that is sustainable and economical.

"The EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] is gradually gaining experience and expertise, there is commitment from miners to get involved - they lose money if we shut them down. They are happy if they can operate freely without batterings from locals.

"We took strong action at Imbaimadai," he continued. "We closed the operations on the Upper Mazaruni and we are in the process of reopening operations in a managed way. That is a success story that needs to be talked about on its own."

The over-riding emphasis on people having to "live" has left many environmentalists reluctant to air their concerns.

Hinds is firm: "I got as much concerns as everybody, but we have to live. My people have to live. My people want the same kind of material life that everybody else gets.

"And I will tell you, chief," he enforced, "I think I have been doing a damn good job about it in the circumstances that we have. Those people who want to criticise, let them come and do it and let them put things on the table that makes a wider range of possibilities accessible to us.

"Any position they are backing, they must be willing to demonstrate they are ready to go and live it," the Prime Minister stated. "If they are not ready to live it, I am not hearing them because I don't think they are honest.

"A lot of people in our government, maybe even Cheddi [Jagan] at times, believed that people were ready to come and give Guyana money so that we don't cut the forest, and we don't set foot in the forest... And they give us enough money to give Guyana the equivalent GDP of the developed countries!"

It is hardly surprising that, besides having to appease the GGDMA and the miners into co-operation and understanding, those with concern for a sustainable, long-term beneficial gold industry are finding it hard to make environmental issues a big priority.

Singh compiled a report on the mining industry in the late 90's exploring the effects and uses of mercury, but was reluctant to reveal it, remarking that at the time he had not presented alternatives and thus the paper was imbalanced. "The GGMC had reservations about it. I would like to be seen as approaching the issue from the perception of managing the environment both with conservation in mind and with economic sustainability."

Per Bertilsson, executive director at the EPA, said resources were inadequate to introduce measures that would essentially safeguard miners and prolong the life of the industry.

"We are trying to strengthen our capacity to monitor and there are some miners who are becoming more environmentally conscious," he confirmed. "However, it has to be a joint effort. At present the EPA has to do everything and to do everything we would need hundreds of people."

Despite the unavailability of these resources, Bertilsson is clear where his emphasis lies. "We would like to see improvements," he said. "When poverty is a factor, there will be some problems, but at the same time I believe there are better ways of doing it that are inexpensive."

"People do have to live," agreed Denise Fraser, operations director at the EPA. "But people can earn a living and not irreversibly damage the environment for future generations."

"We welcome the measures the PM is taking," they confirmed. "He wants a balanced approach."

PNC regional representative for Region Eight with responsibility for mining, Wainright Henry, explained that there was indeed a "mercury influence in the area," but warned that "the effects are not immediate.

"We don't know for sure the physical evidence of mercury on the human body and many miners are sceptical of these things."

Singh agreed: "There have been reports of mercury poisoning and the GGDMA, in areas, has been successful in raising awareness.

"Has it led to a change in behaviour? It is one thing to know, another thing to change - a little like smoking," he remarked.

According to many industry critics it is the diverless mechanism of hydraulic missile dredging which is the most damaging of the mining activities. River dredging, if unpoliced, leads to the destruction of natural riverbanks and the increase of particles in the river, which reduces oxygen and therefore reduces river life. Small-scale land mining practices involve the removal of all vegetation from a specified claim and then the topsoil is blasted with water. The effluent from this method either collects in pools or returns to the river.

The extent of missile dredging can be seen at Konawaruk, Potaro, and Bamboo Landing and leads to a compromise in water flow. Vegetation and islands evolve from indiscriminate deposits of tailings and, beyond environmental concerns, this becomes a navigational hazard. The long-term effect will, according to an industry source, lead to flooding of the upper region of the Essequibo. The same source explained that the Wai Wai were forced to relocate last year because of flooding.

Pit mining and alluvial mining at Mahdia, and the use of sluices, according to the source, leads to untold damage. "The pits are a breeding ground for mosquitoes and obviously malaria besides being scars on the landscape," he explained. "The Ministry of Health's Malaria Department plotted areas of incidents of malaria and the greatest affected were those traditionally regarded as the safest. They had been changed due to mining.

"What is more, there is no structure to alluvial mining. The mined areas just become unsightly gouges in the soil.

"We will pay the penalties in the future," the source warned.

The EPA confirmed these dangers from the discharge of tailings and explained that the use of mercury created a health issue for both miners and local communities alike. Mercury being discharged into the rivers leads to poisoned fish, which are then consumed. When mercury enters the food chain, the potential for mercury poisoning leaps tenfold, leading to respiratory and nervous system damage.

Other concerns are the domestic habits of miners, especially those on river dredges, who are accused of not only dumping all their waste overboard but also defecating overboard.

However, steps are underway to improve some of these practices and reduce the severity of the environmental impact of small- and large-scale mining.