Copyright kaieteurnewsonline
Cops, GGMC tear down miner’s camp Oct 26, 2025 News …following clash with Region 7 gold magnate By Renay Sambach (Kaieteur News) – Officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Saturday completely destroyed a mining camp belonging to Marvis Halliman, a medium-scale miner, who has been vocal about being victimized. Halliman, has accused the GGMC of breaching multiple mining regulations and ignoring a court ruling relative to his operation on a plot of land located next to a prominent gold magnate at Toroparu Backdam, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The miner was recently served a removal letter for disturbing the peace. “Me don’t lie, me instruction was given from the minister for work here because they know the truth of the matter,” Halliman told reporters. He noted that former Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes is also aware of the matter. “ The person who know the truth of this matter too is the past administration minister, I feel her name is Simona Broomes. She know exactly… because this permit was already prepared. I see this permit at GGMC. When I go to collect the description of the 300 feet, I see the Intent to Grant. I see it in the file. At the time, I wasn’t so versed with the regulations and I allow it to pass,” he recalled. On Saturday, members of the media witnessed the demolition exercise by the police and GGMC officers. Halliman and two of his security guards were handcuffed at around 15:00h and kept at the location until 18:00 hours, after the cops said they found an illegal firearm on the camp site. Halliman came to tears while in handcuffs as he expressed his frustration with the way small-scale miners are treated in the mining industry. He also disclosed that he attended a meeting with GGMC and was offered other alternative mining areas if he gives up the plot of mining land in the Toroparu Backdam. “So, the minister decision is nothing… [They] shoot at me, cause all this problem for this thing to escalate, he security them. He [large miner] could work and do whatever he wants. These people working? They working on behalf of the government? I breach any mining regulations? I go according to what the court say, what the law say. I go with that! GGMC carry them own self to court because a magistrate make a decision in our favour. We produced the evidence, we produced everything. The party on the other side did not produce anything.” When media workers arrived at the mining area just around 1pm, members of GGMC and police officers were already exercising their duty to shut down the camp site. Notably, ranks also threatened to seize the vehicle used by media workers, if they continued to live stream the situation. Media workers, including Kaieteur News, were forced to work for several hours without internet access while the police and GGMC officers consumed alcohol that was seized from Halliman’s camp and smoked at the location, as Halliman and the security guards were in handcuffs nearby. Shortly before the ranks and mines officers left the mining area, they conducted a search on the vehicle the media workers used and then instructed them that they can now use the internet. It should be noted that despite requests made to the ranks on the scene, they did not identify themselves or wore their police issued identification badges. Notably, the reporters who travelled to Region Seven to cover the incident was left stuck at the flattened camp site as the gate to the mining area which is controlled by ETK inc. closed at 6pm. At about 19:30h Halliman returned and informed reporters who remained at the dismantled mining camp that the police released him and the two security guards and returned the firearm. He explained that after hours of trying to show the ranks the documentation for the weapon, it was only after they were taken to the ETK compound that the officers properly reviewed the document and decided to let them go. “I sit down and I study this thing [the regulations] for 8 months. The next thing I going and do, meen giving up …I gonna go and study the law and I gonna be an advocate for small miners who are being victimized by GGMC and these big miners,” he told reporters. The miner argued that there must be “a level playing field whereby everybody could earn…” “…not because you is a big miner. Look how much land Alphonso get and he using his influence to mek this here happen to we so he could get the land. He big that they ain’t got no rules, no law apply to he… none whatsoever. These regulations could only be enforced on a small man but is good y’all see wha going on here. And I will let the world know what is going on here.,” he declared. It is important to note that ETK Inc. only allowed the media to leave the area at around 20:30h after the security took their names and made several calls. The mining property at the center of the saga is owned by Wallace Daniels, the uncle of Marvis Halliman – who has power of attorney. The issue dates back to December 2012, when Daniels discovered a strip of unclaimed land located near property owned by the Alphonso family, well-known players in the local gold industry. After confirming the land was available, Daniels applied to the GGMC and was granted the claim with no legal challenges or objections at the time. Notably, the Alphonso’s own river claims filed for in 2009, covering 34 claims along the Puruni River, one mile upstream and 300-feet inland on both sides, while Daniels’ application, was for the 300-feet north and south of the river, adjacent to the Alphonso property. A tribunal chaired by Magistrate Allan Wilson heard the matter and in May 2024, ruled in Daniels’ favour, stating that Daniels’ actions were neither injurious to Alphonso nor illegal. However, the mining property became the center of legal battles and threats. This publication had reported that GGMC served Halliman a removal order, accusing him or persons acting under his direction of disrupting the peace in contravention of the mining act. He shared a copy of the letter dated October 16, 2025, issued by Mines Officer Alvin Graham and witnessed by GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison, Deputy Commissioner Jimmy Reece, and Manager of Mines Quincy Thom. “It has been observed and confirmed by the Mines Officer for the said district that you, or persons acting under your direction, have engaged in conduct contrary to the provisions of the mining act and the regulations thereunder, thereby disrupting the peace and orders issued previously,” the letter stated. It further cites regulation 154 of the mining regulations which empowers a mines officer to remove, or cause to be removed, any person unlawfully occupying, or whose conduct is, “prejudicial to good order or proper working, from any claim, licence, or location within his jurisdiction.” The letter outlined that regulation 98 of the mining regulations provides for the protection of peace and good order within mining districts and authorises the mines officer to act in any situation likely to disturb or endanger the peace. It was noted too that Halliman was previously served directing him to, “cease unlawful operations, vacate disputed area, desist from interference, and you have failed and/or neglected to comply with same.” The letter further orders Halliman to remove all equipment and personnel from the claim within 72 hours or face forfeiture and possible legal action. gold-magnate, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Police Force, Marvis Halliman, miner camp, Toroparu Backdam
