...Vice President of External Affairs and Social Responsiblity, Dr. Georgina Blanco, who heads Equinox’s negotiation team, repeatedly refuses to stop imposing positions on us as if the company were a victim, when the multiple communiqués we have issues have made clear the motives for the shut down, explaining that this conflict is the result of the company’s lack of capacity to understand, address and resolve its breaches of the social-cooperation agreement. Several of them from Canada, for example, on the issue of water, the CEO of Equinox Gold, Mr. Milau cynically stated during the company’s third quarter call for investors that the water in Carrizalillo is “safe to drink” when it does not even meet the norms as a result of its high arsenic content for human contact, let alone for drinking.

During the 69 days that we have been stopping the company’s operations, the company has received diferent types of support, including from the State Attorney for Guerrero, Mr. Jorje Zuriel de los Santos. Uninformed and acting outside his role, the State Attorney stated [in the local press [Office1] today], “that the encampment outside of Equinox Gold’s mine gates was lifted, such that there is follow up on the advances.”

It is important to clarify for the public that this conflict has three main elements: 1. A protest, referring to the ejido’s encampment that we set up alongside one of the entrances to the company’s [mine]; 2. Closure of the mine’s access gates, which effectively prevents the company from operating; and 3. Talks and negotiations to develop a social-cooperation agreement that would prevent further breaches by the company...