“Over the past three months, enormous numbers of swimming pools filled with cyanide have emerged in the interior,” DNA member Asiskumar Gajadien said in parliament on Tuesday.
According to him, these cyanide-contaminated pools of water have emerged in recent months as a result of illegal gold mining activities. He considers it regrettable that no action is being taken by the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment or by the National Environmental Authority (NMA). “When the NMA is asked to take action, it casually states that there is no transport to reach the area.”
He noted that Minister Patrick Brunings is often abroad. If he travelled less, the money could be used to cover transport costs for NMA staff to travel to the interior. “They would then have an overview of everything happening in the interior.”
The DNA member further stressed that people nowadays do not have to travel to the location to gather information. Satellite images are available, and these images can be used to properly monitor the situation. “These satellite images clearly show that many cyanide water pools have emerged in recent months.”
