Miners must exercise control of gold
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July 14, 2010, 6:21 PM | The implementation by the National Government Caura Plan in April this year, gold areas of Bolivar state, has generated a debate on their implementation and consequences as a result of this measure in which from any point of view is evidenced by the repressive and without proposals to seek opportunities for sustainable development on the exploitation, processing and marketing of gold, which responds to the miners and communities as well as to the underground economy generated from time immemorial on this activity.

Now, this measure makes us think about, what interests this policy responds improvised lack focus and brings a new failure, as Piar Mission, established on September 26, 2005, "to achieve sustainable development of communities and mining and dignify the quality of life of small-scale miners and covering the Axis Upata - Km 88, Santa Elena de Uairen Axis - Icabarú, Eje La Paragua - Alto Caroni River Axis Aro - Guaniamo. "

As part of the blunders, from June this year, workers of the transnational Roscio municipalities, El Callao and Sifontes, took to the streets in protest to seek work tables are installed in the Central Bank headquarters in Caracas and can be amend Resolution No. 06/03/1909 June 2009 and can match the 50/50 parity for private companies and is currently joint ventures and state.

This resolution provides that mining companies should allocate the domestic market at least seventy percent (70%) of its total gold production, caused in each calendar quarter, within the national territory, in this sense, sixty percent (60 %) must be offered for sale, necessarily the Central Bank of Venezuela and ten percent (10%) will go to the national processing industry. These figures are calculated on the weight in kilograms of molten gold produced or refined in accordance with the rules governing the matter.

The statutory instrument also states that 30% may be exported, however the Central Bank may authorize or deny the marketing to the outside, as set out in handbooks or the priority given by the board of the Institute.

The "Chinese" Khan, Minister of Basic Industries and Mining (Mibam) in recent visit to El Callao, said the Central Bank of Venezuela is studying the possibility of modifying the resolution of trading of Gold and its alloys, providing answers to Recent protests made by the workers. We wonder. Who benefits from this measure?, Of course, to the transnationals. These transnational corporations are taking advantage of the needs of working people for jobs and use their ability to mobilize to defend the interest of the employer, who is only interested in extracting gold and leave us the people of the south, the famous "little mirrors." As small-scale miners, the National Commissioner of Mines (Mibam), Laura Paredes, announced "that once you start the second phase of the Caura Plan in late July, the agency's action will begin work in other tributaries and rivers that do not directly affect the watershed, which will also evicted mining equipment because they are not duly authenticated, be renewed environmental permits Biscaitarra area, tin, Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Evidence, and Apanao Eight Flowers. The 83 343 hectares Mibam has arranged free and small-scale mining. " We ask again. In what environmental impact study are based authorities to assert that environmental permits renewed not affect the forest ecosystem? ...

In short, the national government lacks a coherent policy for the exploitation of gold to make clear starts and setbacks in initiatives that conflict with social and environmental reality that is around the use of the riches of the jungles of Guyana.

We would, first, to say that the mining policy for balanced and sustainable development of gold can no longer be designed in four walls in Caracas and then come to try without criteria, then review the public opinion polls, this practice is bad from any point of view, is not taken into account all those who live in Bolivar state to participate in the proposal, planning, implementation and monitoring of public policies that directly affect the environment around us. This active participation should begin to organize the miners in a training program for socio-political and productive, permitting a critical understanding of mining activities and their participation in the change of reality.

Secondly, you have to unify the criteria for the development and creation of laws and regulations governing mining activities, which are overridden by the allocation of concessions for mining sites belonging to the population, and which use is intended to meet the collective needs communities, because until now have attempted to change the model and that is a repetitive error, we must change the system. We must do an exercise with the miners, nearby communities and municipal governments to build a socialist proposal.

It is the capitalist mode of production that prevails in the administration of mining claims, and proof of this is the model of contracts with transnational corporations that own the majority stake and Venezuela is relegated to a minority, not the case of concessions oil, iron, aluminum, where the state law takes most of the investment and, consequently, the production management. This would be a qualitative step to be taken into account in the reform of the gold mining legislation that would permit a change to root, giving the people of Bolivar State, in its various expressions and using various methods of consultation, the construction of a policy comprehensive mining.

So do a social audit test, we ask: Who controls the gold in and out of the Central Bank of Venezuela?, Why do you use the gold mines out of Guyana, and that is all Venezuelans? And finally, why are not encouraged a decisive boost gold throughout southern Bolivar state?.

Alcasa workers

mfiguera77@yahoo.com Manuel Figuera *