The training sessions began at the end of October at the head office of N.V. Grassalco and are being provided by Sepco Industries, an international environmental company that is also active in Suriname’s oil and gas sector. Grassalco is bearing the full cost of the programme.
Three representatives each from the villages of Pikin Saron, Bigi Poika, Commissaris Kondre, Makkakriki and Korhopa-Matta are taking part in the training series. Administrative officials from the commissariaat Para are also involved in the sessions.
Fish die-off prompts training
According to Grassalco president-director Johan Seymor, the recent fish die-off around the Moeroekreek and the Saramaccarivier has made clear that residents are insufficiently equipped to assess and respond to possible environmental risks.
“Although residents had observed the fish die-off, they did not have sufficient information about the possible risks and the precautionary measures they needed to take. We want to change that,” Seymor says.
The company wants to prevent communities from having to depend on external experts to recognise the first signs of possible pollution in future environmental incidents.
Residents learn to monitor water quality themselves
During the training sessions, participants receive practical knowledge on recognising water pollution, taking water samples and carrying out simple measurements. They learn, among other things, to check the pH level, which indicates the acidity of water, and other relevant water values.
The participants receive measuring equipment enabling them to carry out checks independently. Based on measurement results and colour indicators, they can determine whether certain values deviate from established standards.
When abnormal values are detected, residents must raise the alarm and report their findings. The theoretical knowledge has meanwhile also been put into practice during field training.
The measurements are intended to contribute to faster identification of possible environmental pollution. Additional research may be necessary to determine the precise nature and cause of contamination.
Two participants to go to Canada for further training
Grassalco wants to make the acquired knowledge available within the communities involved over the longer term as well. The two best participants will therefore be selected for further training in Canada.
There, they will receive additional training and the opportunity to become certified. Upon their return, they must pass on the knowledge acquired to other residents.
“They can then train several people from the communities,” Seymor said.
Grassalco wants to regulate gold mining near Maripaston
In addition to the training programme, Grassalco is working to regulate gold mining in the Maripaston area, according to the president-director.
Village residents wishing to undertake gold-mining activities will be registered again. They will then be allowed to carry out work on sites designated for that purpose by Grassalco.
With this approach, the state mining company aims to bring more structure to gold-mining activities within its concession area.
In the statement, Grassalco did not indicate what caused the recent fish die-off in the vicinity of the Moeroekreek and the Saramaccarivier.
