The sooner Crystallex gets going, the sooner illegal mining problems will be addressed and programs put in place addressing existing & future contamination. The Venezuelan people deserve more than what they're getting. And, we need the permit now.

Article excerpt: "Contamination by mining is rife in people's health. According to Lara so far there is no monitoring for preserving the environment, and this is very serious."I had to bring my daughter to Puerto Ordaz small because the water causes itchy skin, you know one bathes him and stings the skin, we must make an appeal to the Ministry of Environment to do something."

It may be recalled that in this area of the southern state of Bolivar is one of the richest gold deposits in Latin America, as is the Las Cristinas project, which has a proven reserve of 21 million ounces of gold."