Capricious personal decisions on environment and mining go against the economic and social development of Venezuela

Mining union representatives Antonio Rivas and Pablo Zambrano are insisting on a Referendum to decide which model of develop-ment shall be used to exploit mining resources in the south of Bolivar State. Quoted in today's issue of El Diario de Guayana they say a proposed referendum should be convoked by the National Elections Council (CNE) with the participation of both the Ministry of Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) and the Ministry of the Environment (MinAmb) as well as small-scale mining organiz-ations. They insist that a referendum is "more democratic than capricious personal decisions handed down by individuals who allege environ-mental damage and negate the possibility that several companies can begin work taking into account technologies that can ensure environmental protection ... those decisions go against the economic and social development of the country, negatively affecting the people of southern Bolivar, including many indigenous communities."