A small-scale miner has come forward with allegations of corruption and misconduct involving officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), claiming that unauthorised activities and favouritism within the sector have undermined her legal mining operation.
Darlene Luz, a miner from the indigenous village of Paramakatoi, revealed that her operations in the Arnik area were abruptly suspended after individuals, allegedly connected to GGMC officials, occupied her mining concession without proper authorisation.
This development, she says, has not only halted her livelihood but has also resulted in the loss and compromise of equipment and personal belongings at her camp.
“These people just came in and started working like it was theirs,” Luz said. “We made several complaints, but instead of help, we got excuses. It’s like they were protecting the wrongdoers.”
According to Luz, she and her husband reached out to GGMC for assistance, only to be met with delays and what she described as a “royal runaround.” Despite assurances from a senior GGMC official that the issue would be resolved, the situation reportedly escalated instead.
Left with no other option, Luz said she has since engaged legal counsel, and the matter is now before the courts. However, she contends that illegal mining activity continues unabated on her claim, despite the legal dispute and what she argues should have been an injunction halting all operations.
“It’s a clear violation of the law,” Luz asserted. “Once the matter is before the court, all work on the land should stop. But that hasn’t happened.”
When contacted, a senior GGMC official familiar with the case disclosed that the claims are marred by controversy. According to the official, there were discrepancies surrounding the actual location of Luz’s concessions, known as Luz No. One through No. Five.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) verification conducted by a staff of GGMC reportedly placed Luz’s claims in the Upper Arnik area, approximately 20 miles away from their alleged location in the Monkey Mountain region. The original claims, known as XM One through XM Five, were reportedly abandoned in 2024.
Co-locator of the XM claims, Eric Stanislaus, disputed Luz’s claim entirely. He asserted that the original mining blocks were located in Monkey Mountain, not Upper Arnik, and described Luz’s claim to the land as “fictitious.”
The GGMC has not officially responded to the allegations made by Luz, nor has it confirmed whether any investigation into the claims of corruption or unlawful occupation is underway.
Meanwhile, Luz remains hopeful that the court will bring clarity and justice to the dispute.
