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Guyanese Govt to send delegation to Chinese Landing after IACHR report

LoopNews

July 28, 2023 11:07 AM ET

5 mins read

The Guyanese Government is to send a broad-based delegation to Chinese landing after the Washington-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in favour of members of the indigenous Carib Community.

The IACHR said the community of Chinese Landing is currently at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their human rights.

The petition indicates that they are facing threats, harassment and acts of violence in the context of their opposition to mining activities in their lands.

The IACHR said the representatives alleged repetitive incidents of threats and harassment, which would occur “daily” or “regularly”; informed on acts against persons in particular vulnerability such as aggression to a young man, attempted rape of a minor, and threat with a knife against an elder person; as well as the extensive use of firearms, with firing incidents.

But Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters that “we intend to respect the ruling by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights so we are going to once again send in another team to visit the area.

“That will be a multifaceted team dealing with environment, social issues, mining rights, everything to meet with the community and then prepare our report which we will then submit to the IACHR,” Jagdeo said.

He told reporters that the issue was complex because ultimately the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the country’s highest court, had ruled in favour of the gold miners carrying on their operations, despite an earlier enforcement of a “cease work order” by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) because that miners had breached the Amerindian Act and should have given the village at least 10 per cent royalty.

Jagdeo said that the mining permit was issued before land titles had been issued.

“The Caribbean Court of Justice lifted the cease order so we had stopped mining in this village effectively, saying that you have to comply with the Amerindian Act,” he said, adding that he hopes the planned “one meeting” would be able to resolve the issue including threats. “We will ensure that the team has representatives from every sector that will go and have a full-fledged discussion with the villagers and meet the people there,” he said.

Regarding the threats, Jagdeo said government would examine the report to “get to the source of the threat” as well as separate the real concerns from fictions.

He said last year the Toshao informed him that there was a lot of illegal mining in the area, and miners were being forewarned about GGMC’s impending arrival and so equipment and stocks are moved before.

Jagdeo said the GGMC had informed him that the matter was “complicated” as several villagers support the mining company while others do not. He said since then, government has given permission to the Toshaos to mine but there are illegal miners in the area.

The Vice President said there had been instances in which Amerindians there had allowed and even gotten involved in gold mining themselves.

The IACHR said that Guyana informed on actions to mitigate alleged risks and investigate the reported situation.

It said that between May 18 and 22 last year, a patrol was deployed to conduct security threat assessments and disrupt any illegal activities. Between June 26-28, authorities held several meetings with the various Village Councils and residents, including Chinese Landing, and the police in Santa Cruz was given directives to conduct routine patrols within Chinese Landing.

In addition, on March 26, 2023, the Regional Commander along with the regional crime inspector and other members of the regional police force conducted follow up investigations at Chinese Landing to address the threat allegations.

The IACHR said that it took note of the actions informed by Guyana to investigate the beneficiaries’ risk situation.

“Nevertheless, while the IACHR valued these actions, it noted that they have not resulted in identifying suspects, the start of criminal trials, and/or holding perpetrators responsible. The Commission observed that several claims brought by the beneficiaries on risk events were dismissed by the State as misleading or for lacking evidence, without indicating that investigations have taken place.

Jagdeo said the community was government’s “primary” concern and so those involved committing illegal acts should be punished.

“We believe that any transgressions there of a social, environmental, mining nature should be penalised heavily. We share that view but it is very complicated,” he added.