– Special Committee’s life extended, role expanded– Assurance given that mining will not stopPresident Jagdeo listens as one of the stakeholders makes a point.By Leonard GildarieWeeks of worry by gold miners over reforms in the industry came to a head yesterday as President Bharrat Jagdeo, in a highly anticipated meeting,Jerseys Wholesale, said that mining activities will not stop even though the regulatory body will have to be notified.Additionally, in a packed meeting at the International Convention Centre at Lilendaal,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, East Coast Demerara, the President announced that he was also extending the life of a special mining committee he had appointed in early January to now include representatives of small miners from various communities across the country.Many critics of the reforms lauded the announcements by the President as a welcome sign of the government’s commitment to the industry and said that there were many misconceptions that led to confusion and unease amongst miners.Hundreds of miners, from across the country, converged to the venue yesterday with many unable to enter because of space constraints.During the three-hour-long session which also saw several government ministers and officials in attendance, in addition to many large scale miners, President Jagdeo also fielded several questions about government policies and even complaints about possible corruption amongst officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.He also made it clear that miners, especially small miners, could start mining, in a three-hectare area in a concession area, while awaiting word from loggers whether they will be extracting logs.RecommendationsAccording to Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, Chairman of the Special Land Use Committee (SLUC) which was examining several proposals, miners for all scales of operation must give notice of current operations and this includes owners, lessees and tributors. Mining will continue during the period. The notice will take immediate effect and shall be required to be for a six–month period. Certain negotiations between miner and forester must occur during this period.Recognizing that there may potential for conflicts where there are minerals and commercial timber, the committee agreed that the stakeholders should have equal opportunity to capitalize and there may be a need for revising forestry rules in selected areas given the practical need for limited clear felling to extract the mineral. The current forestry rules are considered to be very stringent – a view that was expressed by the GGDMA in its report of discussions held with the Forest Products Association.Currently, the rules classify clear felling as prohibited and this restricts the forester in harvesting. Mining Regulations allow clear felling to the extent that it is necessary to do so, and may make use of the product in the course of an operation.The committee also recommended that environmental bonds (for large and medium scales) and reclamation bonds (for small scale) operations must continue to be lodged by miners.A Mining Reclamation Fund (as distinct from the environmental bond) was also mooted but there was no consensus where the money would come from.According to the reports, mercury, and to a lesser extent cyanide, have brought better mineral recovery but have also brought greater challenge to conservation. The SLUC said that it is cognizant of several areas, which have been mined but not reclaimed. These must necessarily be dealt with and the recommended fund is intended to be used for this.Miners will have to give notification for operations that will occur after October 1, 2010 and after, including location and sequencing details.Mining Regulations also require large and medium scale mineral property holders to submit an Environmental Management Plan in which location and sequencing are required to be incorporated. This plan in effect is advance notice by the miner of the progress of his/her operations.A Memorandum of Understanding must also be executed between GGMC and GFC. Initially, the miner must give notification to the GGMC and thereafter work out a mutually beneficial approach with the forester using an initial mining block/ starting point. “The forester will then indicate his interest in extraction within one (1) month and extraction, if any,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, shall occur within six (6) months. The miner shall submit notices and reports only to the GGMC.”According to the report of the committee, neither forester nor miner should be allowed to delay and stymie the process and both must pursue this process in good faith with each providing the required information in a timely manner and having productive discussions resulting in a workable agreement for their mutual benefit.Meanwhile,