By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News
PERU: Government Suspends Mining in Pataz After Mass Killing by Illegal Miners
Peru’s President Dina Boluarte has announced a 30-day suspension of mining operations in the northern district of Pataz following the shocking murder of 13 gold mine workers, allegedly by illegal miners. The government plans to deploy military forces, set up a new base, and enforce a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the troubled district.
The victims, who were working with local contractor RNR, were kidnapped last month and later found dead. Since 2020, criminal gangs and illegal mining operations have claimed the lives of nearly 40 people in the area. Peru, the world’s third-largest copper producer, continues to battle rampant illegal mining and violence, especially in its gold-rich northern zones.
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA: Trade Unions Demand Minimum Wage Hike as Living Costs Soar
Antigua and Barbuda marked Labour Day on Monday with renewed calls for economic justice. Speaking at a workers’ rally, Senator David Massiah, General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU), demanded that the national minimum wage be raised from EC$9 to EC$13.50 per hour, citing inflation and the high cost of living.
“Our cost of living is choking the working class,” Massiah declared, adding that consumer prices have risen 7.1% in the past year.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has pledged to review and implement a new collective bargaining agreement by next year. Trade unions are also calling for labor law amendments, severance protection, and a national health and safety policy.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Energy Chamber Eyes Grenada Gas Field as Dragon Project Stalls
The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago has expressed interest in advancing gas cooperation with Grenada, following the discovery of reserves in the Nutmeg field between the two countries in 2017. The Chamber says this project presents a viable opportunity to integrate Grenadian gas into Trinidad’s existing network, especially as the future of the Dragon Gas Field deal with Venezuela remains uncertain.
New Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar signaled over the weekend that her government will scale back emphasis on the Dragon project, which was dealt a blow after the U.S. government revoked a key OFAC license in April. The license had allowed Trinidad and Tobago to collaborate with Shell and Venezuela’s state companies for gas exploration despite sanctions.
Despite setbacks, Trinidad holds a 30-year license to the Dragon field, valid until October 31, 2025, allowing gas payments through alternative currency and humanitarian arrangements.