Yesterday (March 26th), I journeyed to Marudi Mountain in Region 9 alongside fellow Members of Parliament Dr. Terrence Campbell, Saiku Andrews, and Sherod Duncan with a clear and deliberate purpose: to see firsthand, to listen without filter, and to stand physically present with the people whose lives, culture, and livelihoods are tied to that land. Representation must never be distant or symbolic. It must be real, visible, and accountable where the issues exists.
What we encountered was deeply troubling, not only the physical reality of mining but the institutional barriers surrounding it. We were blocked by officers on site and denied entry to engage residents and miners despite being invited by those very citizens.
This is not a minor administrative issue, it strikes at the heart of democratic representation. When elected officials are prevented from accessing the people they serve, serious questions arise about transparency, governance and what is being shielded from public scrutiny in Guyana’s extractive regions.
Marudi Mountain, or Marutu Taawa, is not just another mining location. It carries historical, economic, and cultural weight. Gold discoveries in the area date back to the 1930s, and over decades, it has evolved from early exploration into a significant hub for small and medium-scale mining. Spanning approximately 13,500 acres, it remains one of the most resource rich zones in the deep South Rupununi, contributing meaningfully to Guyana’s non-oil economy. Yet, despite this contribution, the structure of governance and benefit-sharing in the area remains deeply flawed and contested.
The environmental reality is stark. The land bears visible scars from intensified activity. Waterways are under pressure, forests are receding and the ecological balance is disrupted.
Beyond environmental degradation lies the more urgent human reality as miners and residents are raising consistent concerns about safety, fairness, access to claims and whether the system is operating in their interest or against them. These are not isolated grievances, they represent a pattern that has persisted and worsened over time.
Equally alarming are the governance irregularities now coming to light. Where the registration of the Rupununi Miners Association Co-operative Society Ltd., Reg. No. 2187, under Section 38(1) of the Co-operative Societies Act by law ceased to exist. Yet, this defunct body is still making payments to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
The government must now answer, how much revenue is being generated, and where it is being accounted for?
This is not just administrative oversight. It points to a breakdown in regulatory enforcement and undermines trust in state institutions and reinforces the perception among miners that the system is neither fair nor transparent.
As we engaged with villagers and miners across the South Rupununi, another consistent concern emerged and the growing perception that control of mining operations is shifting away from local Guyanese and into the hands of foreign operators, particularly Brazilians.
Residents spoke openly about the influence and operational control exercised by these actors, some of whom have been linked in public discourse to serious allegations in their home country. Whether through formal arrangements or informal dominance, the feeling among locals is clear, they are being sidelined in their own land.
At the same time, another narrative is taking hold nationally. One that can not be ignored. There are increasing claims, including from widely circulated recordings, suggesting that access to state lands and opportunities is being selectively managed with preferences allegedly being given to political affiliates, family networks, and insiders aligned with the current administration.
More concerning is the suggestion that other investors who are willing to operate transparently and contribute to structured development are deliberately restricted or sidelined.
Marudi Mountain today represents more than a mining zone. It is a symbol of a deeper national issue, ‘who controls Guyana’s resources, who benefits from them, and whether the systems in place are serving the people or a privileged few.’ It reflects a widening gap between resource extraction and community development where wealth leaves the land but does not return in the form of infrastructure, services, or opportunities for the people who live there.
The people of the South Rupununi are not asking for handouts they are demanding inclusion and accountability. They are demanding a system where local miners are protected, where foreign participation is regulated and beneficial, where environmental standards are enforced, and where revenues are transparently managed and reinvested into their communities.
As representatives of the people, we can not and will not accept a system where access is restricted, where institutions appear compromised, and where citizens are left to question who truly governs their resources. Our visit to Marudi forms part of a broader national effort to bring attention to these issues across extractive regions, which include 8, 9, and 10. Regions that form the backbone of Guyana’s non-oil economy yet remain among the most underserved.
After yesterday’s encounter, we are convinced that this moment demands corrective action now. It demands full investigation into the continued financial transactions linked to a dissolved entity. It demands clarity from the GGMC. It demands restructuring of how mining operations are governed at Marudi, and it demands a development model that is fair, transparent, and inclusive. A structure that prioritizes Guyanese while engaging international partners responsibly and without discrimination is demanded.
Marudi Mountain stands at a crossroad. It can either continue as a symbol of disorder, exclusion, and inequity, or it can become a model of structured, lawful, and inclusive development. That choice rests with the PPP government that must now answer.
The APNU will continue to stand with the people of the South Rupununi. We will continue to speak to question and demand accountability until justice, fairness, and proper governance are restored in Marudi and across all extractive regions of Guyana.
Hon. K. Sharma Solomon
Member of Parliament
APNU Rep Natural Resources
