Differences of opinion appear to be surfacing between the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) over the role of mercury in the mining sector as the local secretariat of the international conservation agency seeks to throw its weight behind global initiatives to ban the use of mercury in the mining sector.
Mercury in use in the mining sector
The local mining sector is unlikely to shift to mercury-free mining methods when bans on mercury exports by the 27-member European Community and the United States come into effect from 2011 and 2013, respectively.
While Europe and the United States cumulatively produce most of the world’s mercury supplies, Stabroek Business understands that supplies of mercury to the local mining industry are relatively small and are secured primarily from Brazil. Those supplies, apart from being adequate for use by the mining industry here are unlikely to be affected by the European and American export bans.
The WWF is actively promoting the eradication of mercury use in the mining sector here in the wake of concerns over its effects on the environment, mining communities and the miners themselves. Recently, WWF facilitated a visit to French Guiana by officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commis-sion (GGMC) and the GGDMA to observe mercury-free mining methods there.
Executive Secretary of the GGDMA Edward Shields who visited French Guiana with the local delegation told Stabroek Business that the association supported efforts to remove the environmental hazards in the mining sector. Shields said, however, that the issue was much more complicated than the banning of mercury in the local mining sector since, unlike in French Guiana, mercury was important as an amalgam for gold.
He explained that unlike in French Guiana where gold is mined in much larger quantities and where the yield could be as high as two kilos per day local miners relied on what he described as “fines” – smaller particles of gold – to accumulate far smaller quantities of the precious metal. “Mercury is used as an amalgam to secure those fines. Because of the smaller quantities of gold secured by the miners here they cannot afford to ignore those fines,” he added.
Local miners have come under official scrutiny for excessive mercury use and other transgressions and Shields conceded that there were cases in which mercury was being illegally used in sluice boxes and in the ‘spiking” of pits.
According to Shields the mining sector in French Guiana was “much more efficiently structured” than the local mining industry. “Environ- mental concerns, particularly issues of land reclamation are priority issues in the industry in French Guiana. The industry there is also much better supported by the French Government in terms of the financing of mining laboratories and the management of data. Additionally, there are fewer miners in French Guiana than there are here,” Shields said.
Meanwhile, according to Shields, moves to regularize the importation and use of mercury in Guyana will shortly be strengthened through the introduction of a system that will require importers to secure licences for mercury imports. At the moment there is no licensing requirement for the importation of mercury.
Last July the GGDMA secured $5.6m from the WWF to provide training to miners in improved tailings management.
Guyana miners need no training in the use of mercury, the use of mercury in the mining industry is negligable, and we need to tell these WWF shysters to buzz off and leave us alone, they are not concerned about health or environmental impact in our region, all they want to do is prevent us from ever touching our land resources for any reason.
I am living proof that there is no harm in useing mercury for mining purposes, I sucked mercury out of a handkerchief filled with gold, that was and probably still is, a regular practice. I stood over the fire and watched the gold burn from silver to orange gold color. Here I am 30 years later, blogging on SN. Do my blogs seem incoherent or unintelligable. I went back home the other day and met a few miners that were in the industry years before me, they looked healthy and strong and were still able to outdrink me.
Why are the industralised countries still producing mercury if it is such a hazard that Guyana cannot be allowed to use 1% of 1% of the total amount of world production for gold mining purposes.
Again I am saying,let them go ahead with the ban, we need to say go ahead, but we are not complying with your unreasonable and unfounded findings, and we will get our supplies from China.
Joe.
Joe, I’m an electronics engineer and I’d like to personally thank you, and all the other exploited, people like you who believe what their bosses tell them about the safety of mercury – instead of believing the doctors and scientists who call tell you exactly how dangerous it is. The electronics industry needs gold to make ICs and circuit boards. Without people like you willing to destroy your country, damage your health (just wait until you’re 60 – mercury stays in your body), and earn a pittance of a wage so that we foreigners can get rich from your hard work, we might have to actually work to earn a living. So, thank you again: your loss is my gain.
If the mercury hasn’t rotted your brain too seriously, you might gather I’m being facetious. People DO care about you. Yes, it would be NICE for the rest of us if you didn’t indiscriminately cut down your forests, but it is you Guyanese who benefit most. Your children will not be crawling in the streets begging for food because there is no wood left to sell or no aluminium to mine; and you will be able to breathe the air and drink the water because it’s not full of chemicals. There are lots of modern methods of exploiting your resources WITHOUT making a huge mess, if you would just hush and listen to people who have been there and made the mistakes before you. Don’t imagine you’re so damn clever just because you’re still – against all the odds – actually alive.
I am fat listless and out of shape here in the USA, not because of mercury poisioning but because of too much big macs and french fries, so also are millions of other people here in the USA, but we do not hear about a call to ban these products, as a matter of fact they are proudly exporting these death factories to the rest of the world.
What I really need is a good six months back in the gold mining fields, then girls watch out Mr. muscle and health is back in town. LOL
Joe.
joe don,t let them get to you
i cant give any comment because
i don,t know any thing about that.
Tony, thanks for your deep interest in my well being. Deeply appreciated.
May I inform you that they use mercury which they call Thymerol,in everyone of your vaccines, as a preservative.
So the next time you takes your kids for a vaccine, watch out for what you wish for me.
Peace until next time my friend.
Joe.