The silence on the Curacao Gold Smuggling case is deafening
Dear Editor,
I would like to have my say in the ongoing discussion with regards to the gold fiasco.
Can the authorities say what is the latest status on the vessel that was seized and detained in Curacao with 10,000 ounces of Gold with a street value of USD 12 million? We all know that the owner of the vessel is one of the prominent and wealthy businessmen in downtown Georgetown. What about the investigation? Where are the crew members? What about the two persons who were charged? Where is the gold? Where is the vssel? Is this the first time that this amount of Gold was smuggled out of Guyana by the same individual? I say a resounding NO.
The silence on the Curacao Gold Smuggling is deafening. Something fishy is really going on there. Can the relevant authorities get off their haunches and work for the tax payers’ hard earned cash.
If the Authorities look in that direction they may well have all the answers to the so called low Gold production and supposed hoarding.
In the Sunday, June 15th Stabroek News an article was published under the heading “Lower production, not hoarding main cause of 20% decline in gold declaration.” The reason was ventilated by Industry Insiders. Mr Edward Shields, a consultant of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association said “There is a crisis in the Industry which started since last year” He further said that “I am aware of many people who closed their operations”.
Mr William Woolford, Retired Commissioner of GGMC, also stated in the Stabroek News “While the reason for the drop in declarations is anybody guess, he does not believe that it is due to hoarding by miners.”
In the Sat June 14th Stabroek News, one Mr Malcolm Perreira wrote a letter stating that “Sales of mining equipment in the gold industry have dropped drastically. He further went on to say “With the insertion of Brazilians into the mining industry, it is a known fact that they are some of the smugglers and that some of them do it on a large scale.”
Mr Editor, after all those “Experts” had their say, there may be a plausible reason for the shortage and I list them as hereunder.
1. Complete the investigation of the Curacao vessel and let us know what happened to the Gold.
2. Worldwide reduction of the price of gold
3. Lower production.
4. Miners closing down their business.
5. Minimum hoarding by unscrupulous businessmen.
6. Brazilians smuggling of gold in a large scale.
7. The closure of the Bartica Office & the selling to non-licensed dealers.
Gerald Sanichar
Gold Miner