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– GGMC insists mining operation legalGovernment said that 13 Chinese working illegally at Imbaimadai, Region Seven, at a gold mining operation, have been ordered to return to the city to secure their documents.Questions about the Chinese presence in the area were raised by residents recently during a media visit organized by Guyana Women Miners Organization earlier this week.The mining camp at Imbaimadai, Region 7, which the Chinese were working.According to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), yesterday, seven Chinese working on the operations had work permits and were attached to a company called Anjiya Mine Inc.In a report Tuesday in the Kaieteur News,David Njoku Jersey, it was stated that residents were of the opinion that the Chinese were taking over gold mining operations in Imbaimadai under unclear circumstances.GGMC said that it is disturbed at the comments and insisted that the area was allocated by auction to a Ramzan Ali. Some four mining permits were issued to Ali in August 2010.GGMC claimed that all the equipment in the area are registered to Ali. These include a wash plant, a Cat 320 Excavator and a 4′ dredge which were all procured from China.The “skilled” Chinese persons were there to operate the equipment in the operations.“There is no Chinese take-over, since the Chinese are merely employees of the property holder.”According to GGMC, 50 blocks were issued in May, 2011, to miners at Imbaimadai when they protested saying that they knew that they were working at a “Closed Area”.“Further, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission is in the final stages of organizing a lottery for Imbaimadai based on several requests from residents for additional lands for the purpose mining.”GGMC insisted that there is no such “Chinese takeover” and that it will continue to engage all towards the sustainable exploitation of the country’s mineral and other natural resources through transparency and equal opportunities. |
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