Govt. allows miner Dexter Chan to operate until November despite destruction of Suwai Creek

(Kaieteur News) – Tensions over unresolved land and mining disputes in Region Seven (Upper Mazaruni) continue to escalate as Toshao Verron Henry-Williams of Jawalla Village revealed that the government has permitted outside miner, Dexter Chan to continue operations on titled Indigenous lands until November.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Toshao Henry-Williams voiced deep frustration over the decision, noting that while Suwai Creek has already been completely destroyed by heavy mining machinery, the homestead of local resident Moore James is now at immediate risk of devastation.

The Toshao explained that she attended the annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference with high hopes of engaging directly with Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, to finalize a resolution regarding the illegal operations on Jawalla’s titled land. However, those expectations were quickly derailed.