Modification of the Mining Code, government responsible decision

Mining Camp

2011 has been a year rich in debates regarding the mining issue, marked with proposals and amendments to the Mineral Resources Code, which focused on increasing the collection of taxes to the companies and tightening environmental standards, amongst other initiative to modernize this law.

With conservative views ranging from those who requested more information, more debate and consultation to those who simply said “No” to mining, and in a situation marked by protests, the government repealed the regulated that amended the Code only to later present a new proposal that is currently awaiting discussion.

Gilberto Figueroa, from the Community Action Committee of the districts of La Pintada and Donoso, said that it was about time to take the decision to reform the mining code, a regulation over 50 years old, with what he called “a responsible attitude”.

He said that this Project, like the widening of the Panama Canal should be a State matter, “where all Panamanians, respectfully, looking each other in the eyes, with honesty and accountability, offer our opinions to obtain the best results”

He mentioned that this is no longer the Panama of 1963, it’s a country that has changed, and that should learn from mistakes made in the past in order to improve the present and build a better future, “but we cannot continue to build a Panama thinking of others mistakes”

Figueroa said that there should not be any passion when debating the mining issue, because everyone is responsible for considering it objectively, I do not think we should go to extremes, because extreme decisions, whether they belong to one side or the other, are negative and will harm us all”

He mentioned that a lot of the resentment and discontent of the communities is due to the imposition on them. For example, he said he is not against the Petaquilla Mining Project, but the mistakes made cannot be justified.

“I repeat, “we cannot build the present and our future based on the past. This Project, as well as the one in Cerro Colorado and the current one here in Mineria Panama in the Donoso area, has three main actors: foreign or private investment, state authorities, who represent us in all in the ruling government, and at some point, us, the communities, he said.

Very vehemently, Figueroa asked the mining companies to help them organize so they can contribute to the building of the nation.

“Because the more we participate, the less we will be wrong. Where there are many eyes, things look better, where they are many hands, you can build and equally distribute the weight” he mentioned.

Petaquilla Gold, lead by entrepreneur Richard Fifer-Carles devotes significant resources into his Social Responsibility Program, through the Petaquilla Foundation that executes the company’s social actions working with the communities adjacent to the Project supporting them in various areas.

Related posts:

1. Responsible mining can drive social and environmental development
2. Indigenous populations can benefit from mining activity
3. Mining, future and social responsibility in Panamá
4. Mining, a very generous industry in economic terms
5. Mining generates positive results

Posted in Richard Fifer