Multisector committee to review bauxite industry bids
A multisectoral committee, which will include representatives of the Private Sector and the Privatisation Unit, may soon be formed to review bids from the five companies which are currently seeking a controlling stake in the state-run bauxite industry. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds made this disclosure to residents of the bauxite community at Kwakwani, Region Ten during a public meeting on Thursday. The Prime Minister told more than 100 residents, squeezed into the Bermine Workers Staff Club to seize the chance to meet him face-to-face, that the bids from the five companies should be received by November 30. The companies that are bidding for either the Berbice Mining Enterprise (BERMINE) or the Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE) are Alcoa World Alumina; Billiton; a consortium which counts Texas Ohio Energy among its members; the Aroaima Mining Company, which already has mining operations in Berbice; and Rasc 2000, of which the United States based CE Minerals is a major stakeholder. They are bidding for a 60 per cent stake in a new company to be formed while 10 per cent of the government's remaining 40 per cent stake will be for the employees. The Government may then choose to divest the other 30 per cent at a later stage through a public offer. The bidding process is currently at the stage where proposals have not been completely received by the government. According to the Prime Minister, he will soon issue an invitation to persons from the relevant unions, the private sector, the Ministry of Finance, and the Privatisation Unit to form a 5-7 member committee to review the bids and issue a recommendation. Hinds made his disclosure in answer to questions by some concerned residents about the status of Bermine and whether or not he was pleased with its present management. In answer to the latter question, Hinds couched his answer in general terms, noting that he would always like any body to do better than they are doing at present. These were just two of the many issues raised by people at the meeting in Kwakwani as well as another at Ituni. These were among the many places in Region Ten and along the Berbice River which were visited by Hinds and a Government team as part of President Bharrat Jagdeo's initiative to have his Government Ministers fan out and interact with their constituents. Even as his fellow Ministers were in other areas of the Region, Hinds led a team that included Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Vibert de Souza; Navin Chanderpaul, Presidential Adviser on Science and Technology; and Director of Sports, Neil Kumar. The PM's lightning tour of the areas included visits to the Bamboo Landing Community, a meeting with the interim Hururu Council at the Hururu School, and tours of the BERMINE and Aroaima Mines as well as an on-the-ground inspection of the Unamco\Case concession. The Ministerial team was treated to a preview of a new site mapped out by BERMINE for a 200-acre mine to which it will move after exhausting its current mine at Chimmerry Eight, Kwakwani. That mine has so far produced around a million tonnes of ore but, according to BERMINE CEO, John Lewis, it should be exhausted by year end.
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