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“The lands are futile, inaccessible and some are no longer in my possession.” Those are some of theClerk of the National Assembly,China Soccer Jerseys, Sherlock Isaacsexcuses put forward by Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, amidst accusations that he got access to some of Guyana’s mineral rich lands under the former regime.Over a three-year period, starting in 2012, Isaacs managed to acquire over 45 concessions of mining lands. The lands are in excess of 54,Discount Nike NFL Jerseys,000 acres.Isaacs seems to be one who benefitted massively from PPP’s giveaway of lands in its last stages of governance while many small miners cried out over unavailability of mining lands.He recently sent a letter to Kaieteur News defending his grab up. The Clerk said,Cheap Shoes China, “Most of the areas applied for were prospected, that is, they were tested for gold but found to be futile.”He said that some of the lands were “inaccessible” and five were in an Amerindian reservation in the North West District and could not have been prospected.Isaacs added that some acres were handed over to two of his partners,Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys, “Who, I believe, have since converted eight of them into mining permits. These permits are being managed by my partners and I am not benefiting from them.”The Clerk said that at present, except for those permits which are being managed by his partners, “I do not own any prospecting permit. Even though the permits are not being paid for by me, the system used by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission would probably reflect that the permits are still in my name.”There have been concerns in recent years, especially by small miners, over the availability of mining lands. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), as regulator for mining,Stitched Baltimore Ravens Jerseys, has been under constant fire for its handling of mining lands.Initially,Dwight Powell Jersey, Isaacs had said that nothing in the law bars him from conducting mining operations.“No illegal or unlawful act was committed. Article 158(5) (c) of the Constitution is clear. It does not prevent me, as Clerk of the National Assembly, from being in business,” he said.The Constitution, Isaacs insisted, does not say that he cannot be a farmer or miner and cannot hold concessions for agricultural or mining purposes.“Also, I am of the opinion that the holding of the concessions by me does not give rise to a conflict of interest. Further, as far as I know, I have not contravened any code of conduct or other rules in relation to the Office of Clerk of the National Assembly.”Of the total 45 concessions he has,Miami Dolphins Jersey Youth, 20 of them are in his name while the remainder is with a number of partners.GGMC data indicated that there was a mad rush under the last administration to give out mining lands.A glance at the last two years also found that Chinese-owned acquisitions by the Clinton Williams-led Board grew significantly months before the May 11, 2015 General ElectionsGGMC’s Board of Directors was chaired over the last two years by Clinton Williams.However, the life of that controversial Board came to an end in December with Government naming city businessman, Stanley Ming, as the new Chairman. |
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