Gov’t facilitates US$20M quarrying project in Batavia

Batavia village in Region Seven will experience tremendous development as the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs facilitated a US$20 million quarrying project that will be undertaken by a private company – EKAA HRIM Earth Resource Management Inc.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai signed a 15-year agreement with the Batavia Village Council and representatives of EKAA HRIM Earth Resource Management Inc to formalise the project.

Under this agreement, 1,089 acres of land will be leased to the company; 13 acres will be used for mining while the remaining will be a buffer zone.

The Amerindian Affairs Minister added that this investment will play an important role as the government is rolling out a massive infrastructure agenda.

Forty per cent of the labour workforce will be sourced from the village creating hundreds of jobs for locals, director of the company, Jesvin Pradee Kumar noted.

Meanwhile, Toshao of Batavia, Orin Williams expressed elation that a project of this magnitude is being undertaken in the community.

Construction will commence sometime in 2023 and the ministry will have oversight to ensure transparency and accountability.