Last Updated on Monday, 10 November 2025, 18:33 by Writer
Natural resources minister says GYEITI civil society convenor
- not in conflict of interest
- not actively mining for several years
- cannot influence rules to pick civil society rep
- will not be a member of multi-stakeholder group
The Ministry of Natural Resources’ civil society convenor for the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI), Dr Ivor English on Sunday dismissed suggestions that he was in a conflict of interest because he is in the mining sector.
“I have always been considered a kind of middle-ground objective person that will not allow myself to be involved in conflict of interest,” he told Demerara Waves Online News. While he was not mining extensively because his operations were badly affected by poor weather that resulted in the loss of his machines, Dr English did not rule out eventually resuming full operations. “I have properties but I am not mining heavily at the moment. Maybe in the future” he said.
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat told Demerara Waves Online News that Dr English’s appointment poses no conflict interest because he has not been actively engaged in mining for gold, diamond or sand. “Our evaluation determined that Dr English presents no conflict of interest relevant to the role as convener of a civic society organization,” he said.
He further stated that Dr English holds no active mining property in the extractive sector, as alleged. He acquired mining blocks in the Cuyuni Mining District 4 in 2014, approximately 11 years ago. There has been no mining activity on those mining blocks since he acquired them. There has also been no activity on a sand mining permit in Manaka since 2014.
The Minister said Dr. English was also engaged in small-scale artisanal mining in the Ekereku Mining District 4, along with Adolph Edwards. He said Mr. Edwards passed away in 2021, and that mining activity subsequently ceased operations that year.
Dr English has had no mining or dredge operations for nearly four years. He referred Demerara Waves Online News to the records at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Gold Board for further inquiry.
Dr English, according to 2018 GYEITI records, had 17 gold and diamond mining permits and two sand mining permits. Mentioned as Managing Director of E & E Mining Enterprises elsewhere, Dr English said he would be willing to give up his mining interests. “I can even walk away from that because my benefits are not significant,” he said.
Among the requirements set out in the EITI Standard 2023 is that ” The nomination process must be independent and free from any suggestion of coercion. Civil society groups involved in the EITI as members of the multi-stakeholder group must be independent of government and/or companies, both operationally and in policy terms.”
Dr English has already announced that he would be hosting a caucus on November 20-21 at the Marriot Hotel to renew civil society representation on the multi-stakeholder group (MSG) of the GYEITI. The GYEITI mechanism—with affiliation to the Norway-headquartered EITI—a watchdog against corruption in Guyana’s oil and gas, mining and quarrying, forestry, and fisheries sectors–stipulates that the governance constituencies are government, civil society and companies.
Minister Bharrat said as a convener, Dr English has no influence over the rules and guidelines governing who is selected and how civic members are represented on the Guyana EITI MSG. “Civil society members will set their own rules and guidelines and select their representatives,” he added. Further, he said, as a convener, the guidelines do not allow Dr English to serve on the MSG.
Dr English said, based on his understanding of the GYEITI and EITI process, he was not in a real or perceived conflict of interest because his stake in the mining sector was “very limited” and he categorised himself as a “small miner”. “I do not think that will affect me from my objectivity. I call a spade a spade,” he said.
Put to him that the size of his mining operations did not matter when it came to the rules governing the d0mestic watchdog and its international parent body, he responded in the context of the size of his operations. “I am not into significant mining now to the extent that it can narrow my view or cause me not to be objective,” he said. “Maybe if I was some big mining tycoon, you will have question marks on that,” he added.
The civil society convenor said even miners serve on boards like that of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission but that would not mean that the board member would take a narrow, selfish-oriented view but instead contribute to a macro process to benefit all.
Ahead of the meeting of civil society and non-governmental representatives, he said he had already read the documents, responsibilities, level of integrity and commitment to the process. “I am not easily sucked into any situation be it politics or religion. I have an objective view of life and that has not changed,” he said. “I am a relatively small contented fish willing to contribute to national development and I maintain my integrity at all times,” he also said. He was adamant that he could not be pushed around or swayed in exchange for personal gain. “I am not going to compromise my principles for benefit. I have maintained that through the years if you check my records,” he said.
Asked whether he considered the Private Sector Commission (PSC) a civil society organisation, he said that was not for him to decide but factors such as societal norms, historical and cultural practices should be considered. He said “the very rules” that guide the process should determine who should be involved.
He said “all active civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) duly registered under the laws of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, especially those with interests and activities in the extractive sector” can attend that event.
The natural resources ministry highlighted the credibility of Dr English, a member of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GCSDA). “Dr English is an active member of Guyana’s civil society. He has also maintained an active role on the Executive Committee of the Guyana Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist for more than two decades, during which he has shouldered humanitarian and civic responsibilities. ” the ministry said.
The government said the convenor would serve for two MSG terms, a total of six years. In reiterating this on Sunday, the natural resourcesmMinistry said Dr English was chosen from among four applicants in response to an advertisement that was placed in the electronic and print media from September 30th to October 15th, 2025. He said the convenor is also a member of Lions Clubs International (and a past international officer since 2009), where he supports civic and humanitarian activities.
“He holds no political party affiliation and does not engage in partisan politics or debates. He has and continues to focus on promoting equity, inclusivity, fairness, and respect for the rule of law,” Mr Bharrat said, adding “Dr English is most suitable for this role based on our evaluation and comparison with other applicants.”
Minister Bharrat on Sunday explained that the EITI Standard does not define who is appointed as convener, and countries implementing the EITI decide which process they follow, provided that each constituency on the MSG has the autonomy, free of coercion or external influence, to nominate or select their representatives.
In Guyana, he said the authority to appoint a convener for each constituency resides with the EITI Champion, who is also the Minister of Natural Resources. That was the practice in 2016 when the then Minister of Natural Resources Raphaël Trotman appointed a convenor for each constituency on the MSG, namely industry, civil society, and government, he added.
Discover more from Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
