Prime Minister Samuel Hinds yesterday said that the proposed six months notice period before mining can commence is “a small time” and warned that “people with excavators and other equipment need to be looking forward to much more even than six months.”
His brief comments on the issue at the first Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) bi-monthly meeting for the year drew an immediate reaction from Executive Director of the GGDMA Edward Shields, who expressed concern. “We thought this was something of the past,” Shields said, while adding that they will have to investigate.
Shields, who is set to retire from the body this year after serving in his present capacity for some 26 years, stated that the six months prior notice, which miners have opposed since its announcement two years ago, still needs to be addressed. He said that it was hoped that the issue was put to rest but he noted yesterday that it needed to be addressed further.
Hinds later told this newspaper that the Special Land Use Committee report—which examined the six months requirement and other mining issues—is still being considered by Cabinet and he could not give a timeline as to when it would be completed.
Hinds, in a lengthy talk with the miners at the GGDMA office, emphasised the importance of adhering to environmental requirements. He urged small and medium-scale miners to “rise to the requirements of large scale mining,” while minimising and mitigating negative environmental and social impacts. Hinds commended the industry for last year’s declaration of over 300,000 ounces of gold and he stated that in accordance with the law, it was safe to say that persons within the industry have declared 70% of their respective productions. On the other hand, he stated that it was hoped that it was not the case of 30% of gold being declared while the remainder “is elsewhere.”
In a prepared statement, which will appear as the forward in a mining magazine being crafted by the GGDMA, Hinds stated that “our small and medium-scale gold miners, taken altogether, are producing at the level that was achieved by OMAI. But, where there was one OMAI, employing 1,000 persons at one location, we now have more than 800 individual operations engaging 10,000 persons across two-thirds of our country, and recovering annually from 15 ounces to 150,000 ounces each, with more than 2,000 persons selling gold to the Guyana Gold Board and its licensed traders!”
He said that the medium-scale miners have been “the main producers” of gold within the sector and, according to him, the group has evolved in two ways—individual operations within the group have become a “large” small scale operation with many “positives” and there are persons within the grouping who are working together as a group of claims. As regards the latter, he said that such operations are undertaken as large operations, while noting that “it is a good thing,” since it is such situations that hold the potential to be developed into large-scale mining operations in future.
Hinds, who holds responsibility for the industry, stated that the figures have shown that the sector “has a great opportunity for small and medium scale miners to move forward.” He said that over the years and recently, he has visited the mining camps at various locations, including those in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni area. He said that there are indications that the operations are being upgraded to the state where there are adequate facilities available to the employees of the companies.
He noted, however, that he has received complaints of young men, including some from the Coastland, leaving their homes to venture into the gold fields but return with nothing. Some, he noted, have wasted their efforts and adopted bad habits like using illicit drugs. He implored the owners of operations to ensure that their workers are “treated well” and that they are paid adequate wages to sustain themselves.
The Prime Minister also commented on the operations of local jewellers and noted that there is the thought that “No gold jewellery is being done with Guyana gold,” since there is no paper trail which would indicate the origins of gold being used in the jewellery sector. He said that the question remains to be asked, “Is it Guyana’s gold?”
Meanwhile, Shields stated that the association had “done a lot for the industry” over the years as he listed several areas which the body has addressed, including the opening of areas for mining within Guyana’s interior as well as the creation of the medium scale group of miners. He noted too that the authorities have worked hand-in-hand with the body in forging its mandate—a claim which the Prime Minister endorsed.
Acting President of the GGDMA Charles Da Silva, who opened yesterday’s meeting, urged members of the industry to adhere to the relevant regulations, while noting that “it’s a business where you have to have the right people.” Da Silva along with the Prime Minister and Shields also urged those within the industry to continue to sell their gold to the Guyana Gold Board.
