Gold prospectors are mobilizing in the face of what they see as an unwarranted crackdown on them by the government over the 20% decline in declarations and high on the agenda for a miners association meeting on Thursday is the planned enforcement of a law which could see jail time for the hoarding of the precious metal.
Government’s alarm over the slump in declaration has seen it revive the Closed Area Committee which could open up new mining areas but it has backed this up with the planned enforcement of mostly dormant provisions in the Guyana Gold Board Act. It has also scheduled a meeting with gold miners on Monday June 23, three days before the miners meet, “to further deliberate on matters of collaboration to ensure that the gold mining sector efficiently serves the national economy”.
In a notice in today’s newspapers, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) with the call of `United we stand! Divided we fall! Is inviting all miners to a meeting on Thursday, June 26th at its 29 North Road Headquarters to discuss the gold declaration figure, the enforcement of the law on the holding of gold by miners/shopkeepers and the distribution and use of mining lands. It is unclear if any senior government official has been invited to attend.
On the other hand, in yesterday’s newspapers, the Guyana Gold Board published a notice warning miners of the jeopardies they face for contravening the law. It noted that under the Guyana Gold Board Act cap 66:01 section 21, where there is reasonable suspicion that an offence has been committed by dealers and persons trading in gold, officers of the various law enforcement and regulatory arms can search persons and premises and seize gold or any other article. The officers can also search any vehicle or package in the person’s possession and if gold is found it can be seized and the person detained and charged. Jail terms are applicable here.
Similarly with shopowners in mining districts, they are required to sell all gold in their possession to the gold board within 14 days of obtaining such. The notice stated that all miners are also required to sell all gold to the gold board or any authorized dealer within 28 days of obtaining such.
While the government has accused miners of hoarding gold, miners and industry insiders have said that there has been a decline in production and this is primarily responsible for the lower declaration. The miners have cited the lower international price for gold and higher costs for mining.
