Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippy1
I think KeithR's heart must be in his mouth now hearing this news....
Not good news I fear.
Skippy1
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There have been several threads over recent years (yes, years!) about the need for cleanup at Pueblo Viejo, the desire of foreign investors to resume mining there, and Barrick's interest in gold mining in the DR. I think if you run a search for them and read remarks I have made in the past, you'll find I have consistently expressed deep reservations, particularly along 2 lines.
First off, Barricks always insists that they are very responsible miners and in how they treat the environment; indeed they tout their internal policies, their endorsement of the UN Global Compact, the ICMM 10 Principles, the International Cyanide Management Code, and their ISO 14001 certifications. Yet, as Dolores noted, their public reputation doesn't seem to match their claims.
Second, until now the DR has a poor record in monitoring, inspection and enforcement of mining firms. With a player as big and powerful as Barrick, using processes that could do very serious environmental (and health) damage if best practice is not followed, you need a government watchdog for mining a bit more on its game than the DR has so far demonstrated.