SITUATION ANALYSIS OF THE SMALL-SCALE GOLD ... - WWF

3.3. Life in the mines
Life in the mining area is emotionally and physically demanding. Miners live for months
in a row in mining camps that are based a long way from their homes. These camps vary
in luxury and complexity, ranging from a set of simple shelters where miners hang their
hammocks, to more established base camps with sleeping quarters, a restaurant, a store,
an entertainment area with TV, and accommodation for sex workers.
A typical day in a mining camp starts before dawn, when the cook rises to make coffee.
The miners leave their hammocks at about six and, after a quick sip of coffee, leave
immediately for the work site. Meanwhile the cook may bake bread, wash the dishes, and
fetch water - if these tasks have not been completed the previous evening. Following the
Brazilian system, the merinda (bread with coffee) is served around 9 am either at the
camp or at the pit. After this brief break, the miners work steadily until lunch time or the
almoço (noon-1 pm).
Usually there is another merinda at about 4 pm, and dinner follows at about 7 pm. The
quality of the main meals varies with the affluence and ethnicity of the mine operator.
Maroon mining teams with a Maroon cook are likely to eat ethnic Maroon foods, such as
rice or kwakka (dried cassava product) with some salted meat or fish, fresh fish, or bush
meat, and a small portion of vegetables. Brazilian miners tend to find these meals too
meager, and partly for this reason refuse to work with the Maroon system. Brazilian
operators tend to provide more fresh vegetables -some of which they grow around the
kitchen area-, meat, chicken, and a selection of condiments.
After or before dinner the miners will wash up in a nearby stream or with water from a
hand-dug well. In the evening hours they may play chess, gather around the TV, or else
visit nearby bars, video entertainment, and women. Bars may have pool tables, table
football, and cabaret, a dance show with skimpily-dressed women. Miners follow this
pattern six days a week. The rest day usually is Sunday, but in some areas Maroons have
determined another kina (taboo) day on which it is forbidden to work. Work schedules
tend to be more flexible in all-Maroon teams.
Because most mining areas are far removed from the capital city and forest villages,
miners must rely on traveling merchants and mine shops for all extra purchases. As a
result a significant chunk of miners‟ earnings is absorbed by heavily priced snacks,
meals, (alcoholic) drinks, medicines, and services. This is especially true for single
Brazilians who do not have nearby families. Local miners are more likely to spend their
earnings on their families.
As the years go, more and more Brazilians are settling in Suriname. Some have
established a more permanent residence in some mining zones. In the Benzdorp region,
there are families that have been around for ten years or more. They have built small but
comfortable homes surrounded by bougainville and other flowery plants, a garage for the
ATVs, a workshop and other infrastructure typically associated with a permanent
residence. Also a number of more recent arrivals live as mining families at the mine sites.
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