Local gold miners were recently given a boost with the distribution by the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) of mining blocks across four mining districts.
A joint Ministry of Natural Resources/GGMC release yesterday announced the successful hosting in Bartica, Region Seven, of a lottery of medium-scale mining properties. The lottery which resulted from a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali to the mining stakeholders, on Friday April 26, was held at the Bartica Community Centre, and according to the release, it witnessed an impressive turnout of stakeholders from across the mining industry.
The mining blocks awarded, covered four mining districts, namely, Potaro (Mining District 2), Mazaruni (Mining District 3), Cuyuni (Mining District 4), and Northwest (Mining District 5). A total of 608 applications were received for the lottery, with 150 mining blocks being awarded across the mining districts.
Minister of Natural Resources,Vickram Bharrat, who spoke at the event, noted that the lottery was the second such allocation of properties since 2021, and was indicative of the government’s commitment to the continued development of the mining sector. This, he posited, was even more important since small- and medium-scale mining is done by Guyanese. As such, he reaffirmed that mining was here to stay and has the support of the government.
According to the release, the provision of access to medium-scale mining properties via the lottery was timely given the continued agitation of small miners who were without access to mining lands. A similar exercise was conducted with the allocation of mining areas within Karouni, formerly Troy Resources, where approximately 82 small miners were allocated mining properties, with some commencing work and currently producing.
Given the success of the lottery, a commitment was given by the Minister for another such exercise to be held within the coming months, where additional mining areas will be allocated to Guyanese miners. Further, lottery participants were assured that every effort was made by the GGMC to ensure that the mining blocks being allocated had mineral potential, access to water, and the required infrastructure, to promote successful mining activities.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and GGMC thanked all stakeholders including the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Guyana Women Miners Organization (GWMO), and the Small Miners Association (SMA), for their steadfast support, cooperation and collaboration, which contributed to the event’s success.
