Silver, Copper Mining could Save Haiti - Haiti’s copper and silver reserves in its hills are now up for an extensive exploitation by a Canadian corporation that has reportedly damaged the neighboring Dominican Republic.
Once this mining plan is authorized while Haiti is under foreign occupation, it could practically leave the country without its ecological, cultural and mineral wealth.
The biggest water reservoir that is near the mining operations is at constant risk of cyanide contamination, adding to the reports that the firm has been previously accused of destroying Indian archeological sites by using dynamites on mountain sand.
Geologists of the United Nations have documented significant pockets of copper and gold in 1970s but at that time, foreigners were not willing to risk their money in an unstable and corrupt country. Three companies are already considering prospects of mining in Haiti but at present, only Somine has complete concessions to bring the metals out of the area. The said permits for 31 square miles were negotiated in 1996 during the presidency of Rene Preval and which required the company to hire Haitians.
Once this mining plan is authorized while Haiti is under foreign occupation, it could practically leave the country without its ecological, cultural and mineral wealth.
The biggest water reservoir that is near the mining operations is at constant risk of cyanide contamination, adding to the reports that the firm has been previously accused of destroying Indian archeological sites by using dynamites on mountain sand.
Geologists of the United Nations have documented significant pockets of copper and gold in 1970s but at that time, foreigners were not willing to risk their money in an unstable and corrupt country.
Three companies are already considering prospects of mining in Haiti but at present, only Somine has complete concessions to bring the metals out of the area. The said permits for 31 square miles were negotiated in 1996 during the presidency of Rene Preval and which required the company to hire Haitians.