I know VHeadline is trash but there may be some useful nuggets here because it is so hard to get throught the poor translations of the articles we see.

Bolivar miners hope new National Assembly will re-impulse gold mining sector

VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports: According to a report in today's edition of the Bolivar State newspaper, Correo del Caroni, several important matters are pending in the south-eastern Venezuelan gold-mining sector, which include 'Plan Caura' evictions of illegal miners, compensation under the mining re-conversion plan and approval to start mining deposits in Las Cristinas and other fields.

The newspaper claimed that the State has not come up with any integral solutions to current problems, which are taking place during a record rise in gold prices on world markets.

It has not been an easy time for transnational gold mining companies, such as Rusoro Mining that have spent a good part of the year fighting to modify prices and restrictive sales conditions ordered by the Banco Central de Venezuela (BCV). Even though the system was modified in favor of the Russian company, which has 15,000 jobs to protect, other problems have not been tackled such as what to do about the huge Las Cristinas mine and the Crystallex concession.

Mining leader, Alfredo Villanueva said the sector had hoped that Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) deputy, Oscar Figuera would have been able to secure payments pending in the mining re-conversion plan to locate small miners in other occupations. Villanueva confirms that those evicted under Plan Caura have not received any economic compensation, but have had an opportunity to apply for credits to start other businesses.

What has been missing, the mining leader complained, is that policies have not really been discussed and/or analyzed with all those directly involved in the re-conversion process. Recently, miners had met the Environment Minister in Caracas and there was talk about temporary environmental permits ... but nothing has been defined about relocation in smaller mining fields.

Villanueva expressed the hope that the new National Assembly would take the matter to heart and seek a definite solution and praised the PCV deputy, who, he said, has been fighting alongside the miners since 2008. With new deputies, Villanueva continued, miners are hoping to recover their influence and also to ensure that the mining communities get the public services they deserve.

The article concluded pointing to the Gold Reserve transnational's legal battle against the Venezuelan government for damages after the latter rescinded the Las Brisas del Cuyuni concession at Kilometer 88.

The newspaper said it highlighted a decisive lack of public policies aimed at developing mining.

The mining community, it is said, cannot understand why the CVG-Minerven gold mining company has not exercised its right and got the Brisas del Cuyuni project up and running after taking it over.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
news.editor@vheadline.com