(Georgetown, Guyana) – The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) reiterates its firm opposition to any uranium exploration, mining or development activities in Region Seven, without the full and informed participation and consent of our peoples. This position is grounded in decades of decisions and deliberations made by the leaders and peoples of the Mazaruni, who have consistently rejected uranium development on their traditional lands.
The APA is of the view that the proposed uranium project being advanced by Canadian U92 Energy Corp lacks Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with the Indigenous Peoples whose lands, livelihoods and future are now under threat. To date, there have been no public or community-level consultations that would have allowed affected communities to understand the project, raise concerns or determine whether they consent to its development. This failure alone is sufficient grounds for halting the project and represents a violation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and the rights of Guyanese citizens to meaningful participation in decisions that affect their lives and environment.
We find the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed uranium project deeply troubling, leaving Indigenous communities without adequate information about the nature of the project, its potential impacts, or the measures required to protect people and the environment. Now, our people are expected to become experts in a highly technical and specialised field without support from either the Government of Guyana or the company promoting the project.
We are equally concerned about U92 Energy Corp’s suitability and experience in undertaking uranium exploration, given its limited history in the sector.
Our communities, like many Indigenous communities across Guyana, already understand the consequences of poorly regulated mining. Across Region Seven, mining has degraded forests and waterways, while suspected mercury contamination continues to raise serious concerns about public health and environmental safety. Uranium exploration and mining have the potential to exacerbate these impacts, introducing additional environmental and health risks associated with radioactive materials that can persist for generations.
The protection of the Mazaruni River Basin is of national importance. The rivers that flow through the Middle Mazaruni sustain the livelihoods, health and culture of the Kapohn and Pemon Peoples before continuing into the Mazaruni and Essequibo rivers and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean. Existing mining has already caused river discolouration and raised concerns about impacts on ecosystems, fisheries and food security. Uranium tailings and radioactive runoff could create even more severe consequences, with contamination that may remain hazardous for centuries. Indigenous Peoples will be the first to experience these impacts, with women and children among those most vulnerable to the effects of radioactivity.
Without a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), there is no basis upon which Indigenous communities or the wider Guyanese public can be assured that these risks can be safely managed.
The APA stresses that meaningful consultation must begin immediately and must be led by the affected communities themselves. The Kurupung area forms part of the traditional lands of the Kapohn and Pemon Peoples, and this is where any consultation process must begin. Communities such as Isseneru, which are among the most affected, must be fully informed and empowered to make decisions about activities proposed on their ancestral lands.
We call on both the Government of Guyana and U92 Energy Corp to uphold the principles of FPIC as established under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Furthermore, Guyana currently has no legislation or policy governing uranium extraction, production or use. Before any consideration is given to uranium development, the country must establish a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework that addresses the unique environmental, health and social risks associated with radioactive minerals.
History has shown that uranium extraction has disproportionately harmed Indigenous Peoples in countries such as the United States, Canada and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Guyana has an opportunity to learn from these experiences rather than repeat them. The Government of Guyana should work to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not recreated here.
The APA therefore reiterates its unequivocal rejection of uranium exploration and mining on the traditional lands of Indigenous Peoples. We remain committed to defending the rights of Indigenous communities, protecting our environment, and ensuring that any decisions affecting our territories are made only with our free, prior and informed consent.