Shields urges re-think of interior checkpoints
Stabroek News
January 18, 2004
The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is urging a re-think of the current operation in the light of the harassment of its members at recently established checkpoints in interior locations.
The miners group is also appealing for beefed-up presence of the disciplined forces at various locations. It said various interior dwellers could be involved in funding this effort.
Edward Shields of the GGDMA said yesterday that donations could be used to purchase boats and communication equipment and accommodate security personnel in the interior.
Shields is also keen to have persons with knowledge of the hinterland as he is of the view that this could assist in curbing crime. However, he acknowledges that this could be done over time.
But even as these suggestions are being made criminals continue to target miners with the latest attack involving a vehicle belonging to JJM Mining Company. There was also a shooting incident on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway a few days ago. Two Brazilians travelling as part of a group to the city were injured when men in a van pulled alongside the bus they were in and opened fire. Reports say the men, along with others, were heading to the city from Lethem to acquire work permits.
On Wednesday, a truck belonging to the JJM Mining Company was hijacked along the trail while returning from a trip to the interior. The vehicle, according to reports, was yesterday found abandoned in Linden. Sources in the police force confirmed the hijacking, but said details were sketchy.
However, Stabroek News understands that one of the company's vehicles was hijacked and its crew beaten and tied up. The truck was returning from a trip to Mabura where it had gone to deliver stocks for the mining camp.
According to information obtained, the driver while returning to the city at around 2 am on Wednesday, stopped near 40 miles Mabura Road and four armed men pounced on him and his crew.
The men were beaten, bound before being bundled into the back of the truck. The hijackers then commandeered the truck. According to the source, as the lorry was being driven to the mining town the hijackers picked up three persons with bags who all departed the vehicle when they arrived at a junction in Linden.
The men after freeing themselves reported the incident to police in the mining town.
It was not immediately clear anything was stolen from the driver and crew.
Meanwhile Shields continued to call for the demolishing of all illegal buildings or "kayamoos", while advocating that they be replaced by specifically identified landings where certain services could be acquired.
The GGDMA head acknowledged that some effort had been made towards reducing the incidents of crime in the interior region although he could not say how successful these were. Nevertheless Shields was adamant that the establishing of checkpoints at strategic areas in the interior should aid rather that hinder the smooth operations of mining.
He lamented that the well-intended attempts to police interior locations using checkpoints appeared to have evolved into something different.
According to Shields, the advent of the checkpoints have seen an increase in the scrutinising of miners and their production rather than preventing criminals from going into the interior. It was possible, he said, that the men on the ground vested with the authority to scrutinise the movement of persons in the interior were adding their own interpretation to the process.