Lawmakers in Suriname Call for Investigation Into Unregulated Mining and Cyanide Risks
Two members of the National Assembly in Suriname have called on President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons to launch a formal investigation and temporarily halt mining activity in Pelin Bergi. Lawmakers Rabindre Parmessar and Michael Marengo visited the site and reported substantial excavations and indications of restricted cyanide use, raising concerns over water pollution in the Saramacca and Suriname rivers.
Key points
- Suriname lawmakers Rabindre Parmessar and Michael Marengo visited Pelin Bergi and reported substantial mining activity.
- The lawmakers sent a letter to President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons calling for an immediate investigation and a temporary halt to extractive operations.
- Observations at the site indicated the use of cyanide via heap leaching, a restricted chemical in Suriname.
- The mining activity is reportedly taking place within an area of interest for a joint venture between Rosebel Gold Mines and Staatsolie.
What Happened
Two members of the National Assembly of Suriname, Rabindre Parmessar and Michael Marengo, visited an area in Pelin Bergi near Kwakoegron, according to reporting by Mongabay. Accompanied by local journalists and an environmental activist, the lawmakers reported discovering substantial mining activity that raises legal questions regarding permitting, environmental oversight, and fiscal controls.
The lawmakers subsequently sent a letter to the office of President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons demanding an immediate investigation and a temporary halt to all mining activity in the area. They observed deep excavations, transport of materials, and indications of cyanide use through heap leaching, a process used to dissolve gold from rock.
Context
The import and use of cyanide are heavily restricted in Suriname, where President Geerlings-Simons has reportedly been attempting to phase out imports and implement a registry system. Cyanide is sometimes used alongside mercury, another restricted polluting chemical. Lawmakers warned that cyanide use at Pelin Bergi could pollute waterways connected to the Saramacca and Suriname rivers, which provide vital freshwater for drinking, bathing, and fishing in local Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.
According to local media, the reported activities take place within an area of interest belonging to a joint venture between Rosebel Gold Mines, a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Co., and Staatsolie, Suriname's national energy, oil, and gas company. While Rosebel Gold Mines was granted exploration rights in the region, it reportedly holds no mining rights, and those extracting gold do not work for the company. Neither the president's office nor the companies responded to requests for comment prior to publication.
What's Next
Parmessar and Marengo have urged the government to involve public prosecutors, law enforcement, environmental agencies, tax authorities, and hazardous chemical specialists in a comprehensive probe involving soil and water testing. Until the legality of the operations can be verified, the lawmakers are insisting that all extractive activity in Pelin Bergi remain suspended.
