GGMC gets its way with anniversary observance

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:01 by GxMedia

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Tuesday claimed victory in preventing the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) from postponing its 34th anniversary observance.

Workers’ representative, John Applewhaite-Hercules confirmed that the event would go ahead as originally planned on July 31 at the Princess Hotel.

“It’s approved. We got the approval of the ministry and the minister so I spoke with the Minister (Robert Persaud) and the Permanent Secretary (Joslyn Mc Kenzie),” he told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com).

Permanent Secretary of thee MNRE, Joslyn Mc Kenzie said after a discussion with the GGMC’s management team, the two sides agreed that the anniversary observance and an Emancipation celebration could be integrated and held at the Princess Hotel.

Mc Kenzie attributed Monday’s protest to a “bit of a miscommunication. “We sat with the management team and we believe that the two can be integrated,” he said.

The MNRE had not approved the holding of the event on Wednesday and had instead said that it should have been held during mining week (August 25 to 31). During that period, an international mining conference is scheduled to be held.

GGMC workers had protested the decision to postpone the event outside the MNRE’s office.

GGMC Assistant Commissioner, Newell Dennison has said in correspondence seen by DemWaves that arrangements have been already finalized for the event to be held at the Princess Hotel, invitations to awardees have been dispatched and tokens to awardees have been commissioned. “All is in train for a pleasant time and it will be inconvenient and unwelcome for changes to be contemplated at this time.”