Miners Association concerned about problems at GGMC

Last Updated on Friday, 4 December 2015, 5:35 by GxMedia

As the Board of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Friday prepares to decide the fate of the Commissioner, Rickford Vieria, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) appears perturbed about recent tensions at that regulatory agency.

“It has us a bit jittery. Things are not going well. That is why we sent the letter to the Honourable Minister Trotman to request a special meeting just to get a feel of what is the vibe at the level of governance as far as the direction that they are going to go with GGMC and also to ensure that stakeholders such as ourselves make our input before these decisions are made regarding restructuring and who would be the new managers,” GGDMA President, Andron Alfonso told Demerara Waves Online News.

Demerara Waves Online News was told that Vieria and at least two other senior officials could be either sent home or transferred to the Mining School.

GGMC Board Chairman, Clinton Williams Thursday night denied that he called off a board meeting earlier in the day because he feared that a number of the directors were about to move a motion of no-confidence  against him.

He explained that the meeting was adjourned until Friday, December 4, 2015 to allow him to consult with Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman- who has ministerial responsibility for the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment- on how to proceed with Vieria. “There were some procedural matters that I had to discuss with the minister before the Board meeting,” he told Demerara Waves Online News.

But Executive Secretary of the GGDMA, Tony Shields differed with the GGMC Board Chairman, saying he had no authority to adjourn the meeting because he could merely move a motion to do so.  He further argued that Board meetings could proceed in the absence of the Chairman because the Deputy Chairman could preside over the deliberations.  

Trotman earlier this week wrote Vieria instructing him to proceed immediately on indefinite leave while he (the minister) considers the board’s motion of no-confidence in him.

While the GGDMA is represented on the GGMC’s Board, Alfonso said that body has not been formally briefed about developments at the Commission because the minutes of the last board meeting have not been ratified yet.

Shields, meanwhile, said a report by former GGMC Commissioner, Grantley Waldrond in that organisation s biased,  the terms of reference were flawed and the document deals with personalities.

The GGDMA Executive Secretary says his organisation supports a review of the GGMC’s system “but we asked to be treated with respect.”

The life of the GGMC’s Board of Directors will expire on December 31, 2015.