Faced with new rules that would tighten up operations in the industry just several months ago, miners have won increased breathing room after robustly opposing some of the proposals even as strong gold prices continue to bolster their dominant position in the Guyanese economy.
One of the most contentious proposals, which required miners to give six months notice to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) before they could commence mining, has been largely watered down. Now, before beginning new operations, miners fill in a form which requires several pieces of information— including GPS coordinates of the proposed operation—and submit it to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). The miners can then start work immediately. In the original proposal, the GFC would have had to approve the operation and the miner would have had to give the forestry concession holder up to six months to extract logs.
Now, the GGMC submits the information to the GFC which informs forestry concession holders of the mining operation. If the area is accessible, the forestry operator can extract the logs. “You don’t have to wait now,” said Colin Sparman, the administrative coordinator of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA). “Now when you apply to
