CIDSE delegation expresses concern about Guatemalan mine operations

Published: 2005-07-25

GUATEMALA CITY (CNS) -- European and Canadian bishops visiting Guatemala in late July said mining projects in the country do not take into account the needs of local people. The group of six bishops from the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity, known by its French acronym CIDSE, ended July 22 a weeklong tour of communities surrounding a controversial gold mine and other communities affected by land conflicts. CIDSE is a network of 16 Catholic overseas aid agencies in Europe, North America and New Zealand. "Globalization should not only mean big companies' right to install themselves in other countries," said Bishop Francois La Pierre of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. "Rather it should be about solidarity and the rights of the poor." Bishop La Pierre said he is concerned about complaints from communities surrounding the Marlin open pit gold mine that they were not sufficiently informed and consulted about the project before the concession was granted.

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