Suriname Police Destroys 120 Small Miners’ Camps at Matawai

According to Suriname Helard, the police used heavy force to destroy over 120 camps, including working areas, sales stalls, and more.

Reports say that the orders to carry out the operation came from the foundation led by Demusha Cedar. Gold miners who were angry at the operation say it happened without prior warning.

Entrepreneur Edgar Valentijn, who has been active in the camp for three years, speaks of large-scale damage.

“It is mainly young people from the Matawai area who work here,” “My camp has been destroyed, including two crusher bins,” “Who is going to compensate for that?” says Valentijn, who estimates the investment at millions of Surinamese dollars.

The miners claim to have been given a green light by vice president of Suriname in a prior meeting.

Allegedly, Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk gave explicit permission to young people from villages such as Jacob, Misalibie, Baling and Bila Watra to work in the camp.

It is still unclear why the police got involved all of a sudden.

Small Mining is a big issue

Mining is good for the economy but can be dangerous to environment and human life if done wrong.

The equipment and infrastructure setup needed to fulfill the legal mining standards is way expensive. This makes it hard for small scale entrepreneurs to meet the required mining standards.

Destroying small mining camps solves one problem but causes many more. Where will those young people employed in those small mine operations go? What will they do?

We keep reading reports about armed robbery, almost every day. Therefore, Suriname doesn’t need more young people losing their jobs.

When a young person is idle, they become violent, wasteful, and reckless.

Instead, Suriname government should find ways to reorganize the small miners into a combined force capable of meeting the legal mining standards.

It’s better to be apart of the solution while getting rid of problems.

There’s hope that the incoming government led by Dr. Jennifer Simmons will find better sustainable solutions for small scale miners in Suriname.

Her government has experienced people in mining like Sergio Akiemboto who is a former minister of natural resources, and also worked as CEO of state gold mining Company grassalco for 11 years.

This experience and determination of the new government will easily solve the small scale mining problems.