…drilling for oil to commence this year – PM?Yesterday, in an overview of the mining sector, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds reported a creditable performance for 2008, but said that the global recession will more than likely have an impact on the industry.A river dredge in the interior of Guyana He noted that gold declaration for 2008 rose to 260,387 ounces, raking in some US$214.5M, given that the price on the world market was some US$800 per ounce.Diamond declaration did not fare as well as gold, according to the Prime Minister, who told media operatives that the declaration for 2008 as it relates to the precious was some 100 carats less that the previous year. The figure for 2008 was 168,925 carats.Bauxite did record a decent yield, in that there was a total of $81.3M revenue earned from the bauxite sector.Stone, with a production of 460,000 tonnes, which represented a 50 per cent increase in the projection for 2008, earned US$11.67M; whilst sand earned the Government some US$3.4M. The production of sand was 605,000 tonnes, some of which was exported.He said that the price of fuel has reduced drastically from that all-time high of US$147 per barrel, and this has reduced the cost of production.He said,Cheap Jerseys From China, however, that given the unpredictability of the recession, it was difficult to make an accurate projection for 2009; but he did point out that the price for gold on the world marking was stable.In seeking to emphasise the importance of the industry as it relates to the projections for 2009, factoring in the economic projections, the Prime Minister pointed out that the industry directly employed some 15,China Jerseys Cheap,660 persons.He added, too, that the industry also indirectly caused employment for an additional 10,000, which meant that some 100,000 citizens, or 13 per cent of the population, benefited, given that the employed persons had families to care for.According to Hinds,Cheap Jerseys Supply, during this year,Wholesale Football Jerseys, the focus will be on the small to medium term mining operations. He lamented that the demand for diamond is falling, which is adding to the uncertainty of the future. He noted that,Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys, this year, there will be a 50 per cent cut in prospecting exploration which had earned the country some US$24M in 2008As it relates to the bauxite industry,Wholesale Baseball Jerseys 2018, the Prime Minister’s projection was less than favourable, given that the industry was under pressure, according to Hinds. As such, the bold plans that the bauxite companies had projected some two to three years ago would have to be scaled down. He did note that BOSAI was still intent on constructing the alumina plant it proposes to.As it relates to petroleum exploration, several seismic 3D surveys have been completed by companies holding prospecting licenses, and these companies have indicated an intention to commence drilling by year end.And commenting on what is seen by some as an invasion of Brazilian nationals of the mining industry in Guyana, the PM pointed out that the figure in some circles was exaggerated, and that the actual amount of miners in Guyana was no more than 3000, and the majority of them were working on plots owned by Guyanese.He said, too, that the Brazilians have also contributed significantly, in that they have brought technology to the country which has allowed for a more effective extraction of the natural resources from the earth. He pointed to a case in Kurupung where the introduction of the Brazilian-made and designed Lavador managed to resuscitate mining in that locale and brought the community back to life.

Police are questioning two taxi drivers from a popular city service in connection with an armed robbery last night at the home of a Police Sergeant in Triumph, East Coast Demerara.Police believe that the two drivers controlled the getaway cars in which the five bandits fled after relieving the Jaikarran family and a neighbour of an undisclosed amount of cash and jewellery at around 19:30 hours.The bandits timed their attack well and struck shortly after the policeman left for work. Empty drawers and scattered clothesThey attacked the cop’s mother, Zabeda Jaikarran, his brothers, his sister in law as well as a neighbour.Kaieteur News was told that the policeman’s mother was sitting in a hammock in conversation with the neighbour when the men entered the yard.A tearful Zabeeda Jaikarran related that she heard footsteps coming towards her from out of the shadows and as she turned to look in the direction of the approaching footsteps a man grabbed her and pushed her to the ground.As she protested that she was being stifled, the bandit slapped her in the face. He then placed a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she screamed.As if to enforce his threat,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, the bandit dealt the elderly woman a cuff to the back of her neck and demanded “all the money and jewellery.”The neighbour who was facing the direction from where the bandits came, told Kaieteur News that she saw the first one approaching with his finger to his lips signaling her to be silent.At first she thought it was a joke until she saw the gun in the man’s hand.Jaikarran’s youngest son,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Jairam Jaikarran,China Jerseys Wholesale, was upstairs in his bedroom with his wife when he heard strange sounds downstairs.“I hear somebody just whispering downstairs, so when I push me head (through the window), I see one person come and walk straight in the gate.”Since his mother is engaged in business, no alarm bells rang in his head and he withdrew to his bed.During the ensuing minutes, two bandits had his mother on the ground. They had the neighbour obeying their commands and handing over the jewellery she was wearing at the time.Two other bandits rushed to Jairam’s older brother who was also in the yard, and covering his mouth, they forced him up stairs.They demanded that he indicate who else was at home and he told them that his brother and wife were in their bedroom.Jairam Jaikarran then realised that the strange sounds he was hearing downstairs, came from a robbery in progress.The men forced their way into his bedroom and ordered him and his wife along with his brother unto the floor.The Jaikarrans said that they told the men to take whatever they wanted but “don’t hurt anyone”.The men ransacked the two bedrooms in the upper flat of the house, while their colleagues downstairs did likewise in the bottom flat.Just as swiftly as they came the bandits fled the scene after receiving a signal from an accomplice.“One downstairs shout, ‘time up’,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, and they left,NFL Jerseys Wholesale,” Jairam Jaikarran told this newspaper.All of the men appeared to be in their 20s, according to the victims.The policeman who was almost at his station of work returned home after receiving the news via telephone.Kaieteur News was told that a man who is known to the family had been questioning the times of their movements earlier in the day.The man had enquired from the cop’s mother what time her son was leaving to go to work.Police, acting on information,cheap nfl jerseys, pulled in two white AT192 Toyota Carinas and the respective drivers.The men are maintaining their innocence but they will have a lot of questions to answer.