Karrau residents protest contamination of creek

By Alva Solomon, March 22, 2016, http://guyanachronicle.com/kar...tamination-of-creek/

The truck which was up to this afternoon blocking the roadway through the village of Karrau leading to the mining areas in the Mazaruni including the Blue Mountain area.

Upset over a nearby contaminated creek, residents of Karrau in the Mazaruni today blocked a roadway which passes through the community and a stand-off between the residents and police ensued as no one claimed ownership of a truck which was placed across the roadway.

The roadway leads from a landing at Karrau, which is located near Bartica, into the Mazaruni where several mining operations are located including l at Blue Mountain.

Toshao of Karrau, Bertille Thomas, told the Guyana Chronicle that the residents were not cooperating with the village council when the road was blocked. He said the police at Bartica were called in and the Officer in Charge and several ranks hurried to the scene. He said the road provides a linkage for several persons, many of whom are not associated with the state of the creek.

Residents noted that the creek was polluted for several months by a miner who sat on the village council and the situation grew worse last week when it was completely discoloured.

However, Thomas said no one is currently mining near the creek and according to him the breach of an unused tailings pond caused the discolouration of the water.

The residents were also upset that no one from the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs paid any interest in the issue, even though a team from the Ministry was in the area recently.

Thomas noted however that a team of officials was indeed in the area at nearby Fairview village and according to him, time was against the officials.  He said the officials plan to visit Karrau after the Easter holidays.

He expressed hope that the stand-off will be resolved by Tuesday night.