On the 30th day of January 2023 the Honourable Justice Sandil Kissoon awarded the Jawalla Village Council damages in the sum of $10 million for trespass to the Village’s land and $10 million against the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), James Kwakowsky and Timna Mining jointly for breaches of the provisions of the Amerindian Act.
Justice Kissoon further granted a permanent injunction against James Kwaokowsky Timna Mining and GGMC from mining and or permitting mining on the Village lands
Costs were awarded in favour of Jawalla Village Council in the sum of $1 million.
Jawalla is an Akewaio Community on the Mazaruni River.
The judgment stemmed from mining permission granted by the GGMC to James Kwakowsky and Timna Mining to conduct mining activities in the Mazaruni river which passes through the Jawala Village Lands.
Despite several requests from the Jawalla Village Council for the miners and GGMC to desist from mining or granting permission to mine within their village lands, the GGMC and the miner ignored the several demands and continued to grant permission to mine within the Village lands.
The Jawalla Village Council was represented by Jed Vasconcellos of Hughes Fields and Stoby and the defendants were represented by Roysdale Forde S.C.
