Media room, San Salvador Conference Centre Catharine Keil enters with Raul Schiffer through a side door and walks to the podium. She comes to stand ever so slightly ahead of Schiffer and unfolds her single page of notes. “Thank you for coming on short notice. We are pleased to announce that we received word last evening from representatives of NorthOre Incorporated’s Salvadoran subsidiary, OrNorte, that the company will allow a team of forensic specialists onto their property at Mil Sueños beginning today, and that this will entail a stop-work order at the mine, effective this morning and lasting until Thursday night.” A murmur passes through the room. Reporters pull out their cell phones to inform senior editors. “This step signals good faith on the part of the mine and demonstrates the tremendous efforts made by both the Salvadoran and Canadian governments, and by the Policía Civíl, who have worked with us all week towards a peaceful resolution.” Cameras flash, lighting her face.
