Mining in Guyana’s interior regions remains a lucrative venture, attracting many young men seeking prosperity. The country’s interior, spanning Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten, is renowned for its mineral-rich lands, particularly in gold, silver, diamonds, and other precious and semi-precious minerals.
Omodele Williams
Despite its challenges, mining continues to be a beacon of hope for those like Omodele Williams, who left Georgetown at 25 in search of a better life.
THE JOURNEY TO THE INTERIOR
Omodele’s journey reflects the aspirations of many young men in Guyana. He recounts his initial struggles working odd jobs in construction, which barely sustained him.
The allure of the interior’s promise of a better life led him to take the leap into the Backdam.
I used to, you know, work construction and whatever work they got just to mek sure you survive. As a young man, you have to experiment. You do your little construction work, you knocking about but that ain’t enough. So, you hear about the bush and come transition here to see how you could make it.
THE REALITY OF MINING LIFE
Life as a miner, however, is not without its challenges. Omodele notes the impact of rainy weather, which often floods camps, making life in the mines during the rainy season particularly tough.
Additionally, the unpredictable nature of finding large quantities of gold directly impacts his paycheque, adding to the uncertainties of mining life.
We face challenges with rain and floods, and it affects you. The rainy season is tough.
INNOVATION AMIDST ADVERSITY
Despite the challenges, Omodele found innovative ways to extract gold and support his family. He collected rocks suspected of containing gold from large-scale miners and manually ground them, extracting the fine gold left behind.
This laborious process, though demanding, proved fruitful, with Omodele earning upwards of $60,000 on a good day.
These rocks come out of a stringer pit, and when it comes out from a stringer pit, it passes through a system where they extract most of the big gold. So, the fine gold now on the rocks, they would give it away. All I gah do now is bring it home, put it on fire, and parch it. When I am done parching, I put it in a mortar and pound it before sifting the dust.
This father of three next move is to add mercury to the dust, or what locals call “quick-silver.” This element would magnetise the gold, making it ready for sale.
All my children come from in the Bush because when I left town, me ain’t had children, and all three of them conceived on the Bush. The youngest is six years old, and the eldest is 10 years old.
He encourages youths in Georgetown and beyond to consider mining as a viable option, especially if urban life does not suit them.
If you know of deh in town and the situation doesn’t suit you and you deh knocking about, just come in the bush. You know you could get to rest down your head, you could get to do mining, and save your money.
