Despite the discontinuation of the burning of amalgamated gold at the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) laboratory on Brickdam, Georgetown over health concerns, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) workers have not resumed work at their adjoining offices and their union says that they will remain off the job until a satisfactory cleanup is done.
The GGB was forced to close the operations of the Gold Board’s lab after mounting pressure from the GGMC workers. Due to the high levels of mercury found in the blood of a majority of workers, a decision was made by the management of the Commission for them to boycott work and continue doing so until the lab stopped the burning of amalgamated gold.
Despite the workers leaving work on Friday, the Gold Board continued its operations unhindered, which resulted in the workers staying away from work on Monday too. However, the ministry caved in and subsequently closed the lab’s operations the following day and made a commitment to relocating it.
