The Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) condemns the recent mining incursion in Chinese Landing Village, Region One, by the miner Wayne Vieira and his representatives, who are violating the community’s land rights. The APA calls for the immediate intervention of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to halt this recent incursion by the miner, and to uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples protected in the Constitution of Guyana. These latest developments are indicative of a concerning national trend whereby mining operations are flagrantly disregarding the property rights of Indigenous Peoples to the detriment of communities’ security and wellbeing.
The APA stands in solidarity with Toshao Nikita Miller, the Councillors, and residents of Chinese Landing who have been tirelessly defending their land in the recent standoff with Vieira’s mining operations, and for nearly the past three decades of doing so. For nearly three decades, the Chinese Landing Village Council (CLVC) has been asserting its rights with regard to the mining operation of miner Wayne Vieira. In 1976, Chinese Landing received its land title, which was reissued in 1991 in accordance with the State Lands Act, years before Vieira received his first prospecting permits in the area in 1998. This included the area known as Tassawini, where mining operations have been taking place. Since then, the village also received its Certificate of Title in 2018, which reaffirmed and reflected a demarcation of its boundaries. It is within these boundaries that Vieira’s mining operations are happening.
Chinese Landing has been experiencing incursions by Vieira’s gold-mining operations since 2004, when negotiations between the two parties broke down after they failed to renew a 1998 agreement. The Village again sought to improve the terms of the 1998 agreement in 2009 when Vieira wanted to continue mining operations in Tassawini. However, despite efforts by the Village Council to resolve the matter and come to a common agreement, this did not happen. Yet gold mining has continued in Tassawini without the CLVC’s consent.
Since 2018, the Village Council has reported increased mining activity in the disputed area, which has negatively affected community residents, their health, and the environment. Vieira’s mining activities have resulted in:
- Pollution of critical waterways, such as the Huri Creek, that villagers had relied upon as a source of clean water, with reports of rashes, vomiting, and diarrhoea since mining has intensified;
- Destruction of village lands, farms, and hunting grounds that are essential to the livelihood of residents in the areas;
- Increased incidents of violence and threats towards villagers from personnel working on the mining operations, without investigations being conducted by the Police or State;
- Degradation of the Village Council’s ability to govern the community, which disrespects their authority over their land;
- Disruption to the social fabric of daily life for residents as they are forced to discontinue the livelihood they depend upon to support their families and children;
- Increased mercury levels found in residents of the village and the surrounding area.
These negative impacts continue despite objections from the CLVC and several reports to the Government and state agencies regarding the worsening situation. The CLVC has sought resolutions to the matter through several legal and constitutional avenues that have led to inadequate actions by the Government to resolve the land dispute as mining persists.
Most recently, the CLVC and Wayne Vieira entered into a mediation process facilitated by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). The actions taken by Vieira on 21 August 2026 have undermined the good faith of this process. The Village was not informed of developments regarding Vieira’s access to the mining area, nor did the CLVC give consent for him to continue gold mining in the Tassawini area. Unfortunately, the actions taken by Vieira have broken trust in the current mediation process.
The APA condemns the inaction by the State to meaningfully implement measures to resolve this matter. Further, a mediation process cannot be expected to continue in good faith while Veira continues to violate the land rights of Chinese Landings. This type of response leaves the residents of Chinese Landing at greater risk to the growing insecurity and threats that the mining operations have imposed on the community.
The current standoff in Chinese Landing highlights the level of desperation faced by the community, and the lengths to which they must go to secure their land and the future of generations to come. This highlights the crucial support that Chinese Landing needs in order to protect its lands as its rights continue to be violated.
The positions taken by both the State and Vieira are in contravention of Section 48 of the Amerindian Act, and Section 80 of the Mining Act, which both stipulate and reaffirm the rights of Indigenous Peoples to consent or refuse medium-scale mining operations in their lands. It is also in violation of Articles 142, 149G and 154A of the Constitution of Guyana, which protects the property rights of the Chinese Landing Village Council. 
Further, the inaction of the GGMC and other agencies of the Government of Guyana highlights a growing concern regarding the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights when mining interests are granted within their lands. The degradation of the environment also has negative impacts on the health of Chinese Landing, and neighbouring communities such as Kariako, Kokerite and Koriabo. Intensified mining in Tassawini has worsened water turbidity and deteriorated the Barama River into an active health hazard. Additionally, the CLVC and residents are increasingly concerned about mercury contamination from their water sources.
The APA reminds the Government of the precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Human Rights Committee (IACHR) in 2023. These measures stipulate that the government is obligated to take the necessary steps to protect the rights to life and personal integrity of the residents of Chinese Landing; and that the Village must also be consulted and agree to any measures adopted that would lead to a resolution between the Council and Wayne Vieira.
The current incursion by Wayne Vieira does not respect these recommendations and continues to violate the land rights of Chinese Landing. We are calling on the government to take immediate action to halt these operations, uphold the rights of Chinese Landing, and find a peaceful resolution between the parties that protects the rights-holders while not impeding their livelihood.
Background on the Chinese Landing Legal Case:
Prior to the current standoff, Wayne Vieira filed a case against the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission regarding its authority to issue a Cease Work Order (CWO) within the Tassawini area. In 2017, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that the GGMC officers who issued the CWO lacked explicit legal authority to enforce requirements in the Amerindian Act as they pertain to regulations under the Mining Act as the CWO in question attempted to do. The CCJ did not validate Vieira’s underlying permits, nor did it invalidate the community’s absolute title. The State has not sought to close this legislative gap nor enforce mechanisms available such as the Amerindian Act to resolve this case. The government has instead used the ruling to dismiss Chinese Landing’s continued rights claims and grievances, and permit unauthorised mining within their titled land. The government had also issued a mining ban in the Tassawini area in August 2023, without consulting the Village Council. This ban was not equally applied as reports surfaced that Wayne Vieira was still mining in disputed area. The Village has moved ahead with its own legal case on its substantive land claims, and is awaiting a ruling from the Court of Appeal.