By Mark DaCosta- The Wapichan Wiizi Women’s Movement (WWWM) has raised urgent concerns over the environmental and social impacts of mining operations in the Marudi area, situated within the Wapichan people’s ancestral lands in southern Guyana. Calling for an immediate suspension of mining activities, the group highlights significant violations of their rights and the destruction of sacred sites, particularly at Marudi Mountain.
In a recent statement, the WWWM calls on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government to halt mining in the area until the Wapichan community’s rights are properly respected and safeguarded in line with international agreements, such as the Escazú Agreement, which Guyana ratified in 2019. The group’s primary concern centres on the PPP government’s failure to involve them in decisions impacting their lands and well-being.
The Wapichan women argue that the mining activities occurring at Marudi Mountain – a site of deep cultural and spiritual significance – are being carried out without their consultation, breaching their right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). “We as Indigenous people were never consulted about and never had the chance to participate in this agreement,” the statement reads, referencing the deal made between the Rupununi Miners Association (RMA), the PPP government, and the Aurous mining company.
Furthermore, the statement highlights that the presence of miners, reportedly from Brazil, is creating social tensions and contributing to an influx of unregulated, often dangerous, activities.
The WWWM specifically called for the government to disclose all relevant information about mining operations, including the names of permit holders and all related documentation submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
The rise in unregulated mining at Marudi has also brought an increase in violent crime and threats to community safety, the statement says. The WWWM highlights a worrying surge in criminal activity, including stabbings, robberies, and assaults on villagers. One of the most alarming incidents was a recent hostage situation in which two Wapichan men were held at gunpoint by a group suspected to be Brazilian nationals. The women’s group expressed grave concerns about the illegal arms trade, drug smuggling, and the growing presence of prostitution, all attributed to the unchecked influx of outsiders into the area.
The group states, “We find ourselves facing an atmosphere of fear where our lives and safety are at risk. Our peaceful communities are no longer safe.”
One of the most severe impacts of mining, the WWWM notes, is the pollution of local water sources. The group states that mercury – a highly toxic substance – is being used in the mining process, leading to the contamination of the creeks and rivers upon which the Wapichan people depend for drinking water, fishing, and other traditional practices. “As women, we and our children are often most directly impacted by the pollution of our environment,” the statement explains.
The statement noted that the environmental degradation is expected to worsen with an increase in mining activity, as the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has called for a ramping up of gold production in the coming months.
Despite promises by government representatives that mining would bring jobs and economic development to the region, the WWWM argues that their communities have seen few benefits from the mining boom. Men from local villages who work in the mining operations are often subjected to exploitative working conditions. Meanwhile, the destruction of sacred lands continues without regulation or oversight.
“Our people are not seeing the profits from this destruction, and mining is interfering with our ability to live in harmony with our customary lands and to pursue more sustainable livelihoods,” the press statement asserts. The group calls for a halt to mining until a comprehensive regulatory framework is put in place, ensuring fair compensation for local workers and respecting the rights of the Wapichan people to their land and resources.
As the WWWM highlights, “We repeat our demand that the government suspend mining in the Marudi area until comprehensive regulatory systems are implemented, our concerns about the environmental and social impacts of mining are addressed, and there is meaningful and effective participation by our communities in line with FPIC.”
It should be noted that the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) which represents the indigenous communities of the southern Rupununi region where the Wapichan people have lived for generations, had made a similar call for mining suspension on November 5. The SRDC works to protect the interests of the Wapichan and other Indigenous communities, advocating for sustainable development, cultural preservation, and the protection of traditional lands and resources.
