Kaieteur News
Sunday April 24, 2016
PAGE 03
PPP Govt. allowed Mahdia Gold free-for-all with Omai properties - GGMC demands outstanding US$10M
I
n early 2011, Canada-owned exploration company, Mahdia Gold Corp. acquired what was once Guyana's biggest gold mine- the Omai gold mines property in Region Eight. Approved via a Cabinet decision by the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, the Canadian company was supposed to develop the area, and pay the Government of Guyana a total of US$11.5M ($2.3B) over a two-year period. However, despite being given extensions until February 2015, the company
has not only defaulted on its commitments but it appears that nothing was done by the then Government of Guyana to monitor the activities of the company to ensure compliance. In the last fortnight, the company sacked its Managing Director, Sheik Alan Zaakir. Donald Gordon, the Interim Chief Executive O ff i c e r ( C E O ) a n d a Director of Mahdia Gold Corp, tendered his resignation. New management has since been announced. The company, from all indications, was
given a free rein to operate the Omai property, an area that is over 28,000 acres. It would tell the story of how one company was left unregulated with a huge piece of mining property and took advantage. Mahdia Gold, according to GGMC and Government officials, instead of finding financing on the stock exchange where it is listed, concentrated on renting out parts of the property to small local operations. Clash with Miners There are several operations ongoing in the Omai site at the moment and
Food for thought TIPS FOR A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
R
ead these tips, live by them more fully, and I promise you will experience a beautiful life: Take a 10-30 minute walk every day and while you walk, smile; Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day; When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, “My purpose is to … today”; Live with the 3 E's: Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy, and the 3 F's: Faith, Family, Friends; Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6; Dream more while you are awake; Try to make at least three people smile each day; Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn, pass all your tests; Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime; Smile and laugh more; It will keep the energy vampires away; Life isn't fair, but it's still good; Life is too short to waste time hating anyone; Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does; You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagreements; Make peace with your past, so it won't mess up the present; Don't compare your life with others'. You
have no idea what their journey is all about; Burn the candles, use the nice sheets. Don't save it for a special occasion; Today is special; No one is in charge of your happiness except you; Forgive everyone for everything; What other people think of you is none of your business; Time heals almost everything; Give time, time; However good or bad a situation is, it will change; Your job won't take care of you when you are sick; Your friends will stay in touch; Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful; The best is yet to come… Believe; No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up; Do the right thing; Call your family often; Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: “I am thankful for…” – “Today I accomplished…”; Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed; Enjoy the ride; Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass; Make the most of it and enjoy the ride. (Author Unknown)
Director of Roraima Investment and Consulting Services, Robert Corbin it appears that new management of the Mahdia Gold is clashing with them. Zaakir, the fired chief of Mahdia Gold, had another company formed called Roraima Investment and Consulting Services. Zaakir was the Secretary and Director while the other directors are Kris Sammy and former Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin. It was this company that signed agreements with a number of local miners to allow them to operate on the property. It is unclear whether GGMC was aware that these mining operations were taking place. Several of the miners say they have legal documents but Mahdia Gold last week in a public notice published in Kaieteur News made it clear that it had terminated the services of Zaakir. Mahdia Gold also said that Zaakir had no right to collect funds or conduct any business with regarding the contracting of mining in the area. The company warned
Former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud
Sacked Managing Director: Sheik Mohamed 'Alan' Zaakir
that Zaakir cannot represent the company to government agencies like the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Gold Board, the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Ministry of the Natural
Resources. The situation at Mahdia Gold would raise several questions, according to officials close to the company. For one, Mahdia Gold's (continued on page 61)