Villa Brazil

Villa Brazil (also Villa Brasil[1]) is a garimpeiros (illegal gold prospectors) village in the Boven Saramacca resort of the Sipaliwini District of Suriname.

For the Brazilian garimpeiros village, see Clevelândia do Norte § Vila Brasil.
Villa Brazil
Gold mining village
Villa Brazil
Location in Suriname
Coordinates: 5.00843°N 55.52441°W / 5.00843; -55.52441
Country Suriname
DistrictSipaliwini District
ResortBoven Saramacca

Overview

Gold was discovered in the Rosebel area in 1879. More than century after, in 2004, a commercial exploitation started at the Rosebel Gold Mines.[2] Illegal gold miners started to exploit the Matawai area near Nieuw Jacobkondre.[1] Villa Brazil was founded illegally by Brazilian gold miners, and contains dwellings for the gold miners and several commercial shops.[3]

The village has become known as an area with a high rate of crime.[4][3][1] Complaints of the nearby villagers who had rely on a police station in Kwakoegron have resulted the establishment of a police station in Nieuw Jacobkondre in 2014.[1] Concerning morbidity, malaria is prevalent in the village.[5] In late 2020, Villa Brazil was at the centre of a COVID-19 outbreak.[6]

Mining

The gold mining is performed by building of sluice boxes. Mercury is poured over the dirt with bare hands.[7] The method leaves much gold undetected, and therefore some miners are using metal detectors.[8] The mercury pollution in the area is both an environment problem, and a health hazard.[9] Most of the gold gets transported to the North of Paramaribo where the gold buyers are located.[9] In 2021, a badge system was introduced, which requires gold miners to be registered, and gold buyers to track the source of the gold.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Politie-eenheden zullen gestationeerd worden te Nieuw Jacob Kondre". Dagblad De West (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  2. "History Old". Rosebel Gold Mines. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  3. "Boldewijn: 'Grensprobleem moet prioriteit gesprekken zijn'". Dagblad De West (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  4. "Verdachte vrijgesproken voor brute roofoverval". Dagblad Suriname. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  5. Versol 2007, p. 36.
  6. "Verontrustende Covid-19-situatie in goudzoekersdorpen Villa Brazil en Cabana". De Ware Tijd. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  7. Versol 2007, p. 24.
  8. Versol 2007, p. 6.
  9. Versol 2007, p. 35.
  10. "Registratie goudzoekers start derde week februari". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 March 2021.

Bibliography
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