While lauding its collaborative efforts with government in securing benefits for miners, including tax incentives for the industry, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) says that there are other issues affecting the industry which must be addressed such as the rising cost of production.
This is according to a press release yesterday from the GGDMA which said that it continues to lobby for additional benefits for the growing sector which is still beset by the rising cost of production, the lack of adequate infrastructure, labour shortages, and ongoing efforts to find a concrete solution which would allow the industry to transition to mercury-free mining.
According to the release, GGDMA’s President Andron Alphonso, said at the union’s recently- held 38th annual general meeting that a mandate was requested by the executives, and subsequently granted by the membership present, to allow for a review of the organisation’s original charter and to subsequently propose necessary changes in keeping with the current needs of the sector.
Against this background, the release said that Alphonso outlined some major objectives that the GGDMA will be focusing on in the upcoming year as being: renewal of the Investment Development Agreements (IDAs) for miners; improved infrastructure for the mining sector; opening up of new mining lands; the option for miners to be paid up to 100% of funds earned from gold sales in foreign currency and the removal of restrictions on the age of ATVs for which waivers can be garnered.
The release said that Administrative Manager of the GGDMA, Avalon Jagnandan, has said that the Association has launch-ed an initiative to support miners in need of work grounds; while adding that several mining blocks would be made available to miners of all scales to access; and urged them to visit the Secretariat for details.
Members in attendance at the general meeting, the release goes on to say, raised concerns over increasing malaria cases in the interior and called on greater intervention and support from the Ministry of Health; even as they also urged the union to continue lobbying government for new roads; rehabilitation and upgrading of existing roads, bridges and airstrips.
They also asked, the release said, to examine a reduction in late fees charged by the GGMC, to seek additional funding for mercury-free mining technology and to engage banks and suppliers for better financial terms for the industry.
The release underscored the growth of the industry, with Alphonso saying at the general meeting “The number of persons entering the mining industry is on the rise, we have seen more new entrants both foreign and local. The industry is continuing to grow as is our membership.”
It was there the release said that in reporting on the progress for the past year Alphonso said the GGDMA, through strong lobbying efforts and collaboration with the Government, was “able to unlock several benefits for miners, including tax incentives for the industry.”
According to the release, the meeting was the first large gathering of the Association since May 2022, when the members of the GGDMA met with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, during which the Government announced a number of measures that provided assistance to the mining sector.
