Local miners have already come to terms with the inevitability of a mercury-free gold mining sector in Guyana in the foreseeable future but are seeking government’s support to lobby the international community to protect the industry against any ban on the purchase of gold produced through the application of mercury, Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) official Colin Sparman told Stabroek Business in an exclusive interview earlier this week.
Following a meeting between senior GGDMA officials and President Donald Ramotar on Thursday, August 2, a joint statement committed the Ramotar administration to not banning mercury imports from Guyana. However, Sparman told Stabroek Business that whether or not a formal ban was imposed on mercury importation was not important. What is important, he said, is getting government’s support in protecting the industry against such reprisals as might arise on the international market which might target gold production that is associated with mercury.
“We have spoken with government on the issue of lobbying external stakeholders to allow for a period – perhaps three to five years – during which we will continue to work with
