“No Consultation, No Approval”: Chinese Landing Leadership Slams Resumption of Mining on Titled Lands
By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
CHINESE LANDING, REGION ONE — The Indigenous community of Chinese Landing is once again sounding the alarm over what they describe as the unauthorized and illegal resumption of mining activities on their titled lands. Speaking exclusively to Nightly News, Toshao Nikita Miller revealed that mining operations have been ongoing for over a month, completely bypassing mandatory community consultation protocols and the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
The development marks a troubling new chapter in a decade-long struggle that has seen the community pitted against miners and state regulatory bodies in both the High Court and the International arena.
A Pattern of Silence from Authorities
Toshao Miller expressed deep frustration, noting that despite direct efforts to engage the government, her reports have fallen on deaf ears.
- WhatsApp Alerts: The Toshao confirmed she has sent photo and video evidence of the new mining activity directly to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai (Brown) and Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat.
- Zero Response: “I’ve been updating them through WhatsApp… but no response from them,” Miller stated. The lack of feedback from central government has left the village leadership feeling abandoned in their role as stewards of the land.
- The “Unknown” Miners: According to Miller, the miners currently operating at the sites never introduced themselves to the Village Council or sought recognition, raising serious transparency concerns.
The Legal Quagmire: No Injunction in Sight
The community’s ability to defend its land is currently hamstrung by a complex and exhausting legal history.
- The Vera Connection: While the Court of Appeal has yet to rule on broader community claims, mining sites are reportedly being managed by Steven Vieira (acting on Power of Attorney for Wayne Vieira).
- Judicial Setbacks: Following a High Court dismissal of their claims without a full hearing, the community’s attorney has advised against filing a new injunction.
- The 2010 Precedent: Legal counsel argued that seeking another stay “doesn’t make sense” since the original 2010 Cease Work Order against the miners was previously quashed by the High Court.
Human Rights at Risk: IACHR Concerns
The situation at Chinese Landing has drawn international scrutiny from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The Commission’s resolutions have highlighted “grave risks” to the community that extend beyond land disputes:
- Intimidation: Documented incidents of hostility against residents.
- Forcible Removal: A 2018 incident where security forces forcibly removed the family of Selwyn Miller.
- Environmental Degradation: Ongoing mining without village oversight threatens the water and food security of the Carib people.
A Struggle for Sovereignty
For Toshao Nikita Miller and the people of Chinese Landing, the resumption of mining represents more than just a business dispute—it is a direct challenge to their sovereignty as an Indigenous nation. As operations continue on their titled lands without their consent, the community remains caught between a silent government and a legal system that has, thus far, failed to provide a definitive shield against exploitation.
