Latest update March 28th, 2025 1:00 AM
Latest News
- “It will be a very bad day for Venezuelan if they attack Guyana or ExxonMobil”—Rubio declares
- Guyana gets info on U.S. tax evasion allegations against Mohameds, Mae Thomas
- US$35 injected into banking system to address foreign currency shortage—VP Jagdeo
- Citizens to stage protest today against lack of access to information in Guyana
- Guyana vows to stand with U.S.
Under-fire GGMC boss to proceed on retirement leave
– new head being sought
Four months after confirming Karen Livan as its new Commissioner, mining regulator, the Guyana
GGMC Commissioner, Karen Livan
Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), is now looking for a new head.
Livan, a 30-year veteran at the GGMC, came under fire Wednesday during a meeting between government and foreign nationals involved in mining.
Government, in its move to clamp down on illegal mining, has announced sweeping measures that will mandate foreign nationals to be in possession of work permits before entering the country’s goldfields. There are over 15,000 Brazilians working and living in Guyana with a significant number of them undocumented.
It was during that meeting at Celina’s Restaurant, located on the Kitty seawall, that a Brazilian claimed he was granted permission earlier this year to mine on a government reserve in Kamarang, Region Seven. The permit was signed by Livan who at the time was unable to explain how the permit was granted.
GGMC’s Chairman, Major General (retd.) Joe Singh, disclaimed knowledge of the transaction when asked by Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.
This drew an angry response from the Minister who ordered that Brazilian visit his office yesterday with the documents permitting him to mine on state property.
Yesterday, GGMC’s Board of Directors reportedly met where it was agreed that the process to replace Livan would start.
The Commissioner is due to proceed on retirement leave in a few months.
“There is frustration of the Board in GGMC’s management and an urgent need to arrest years of poor management and lawlessness in the mining sector,” an official said last evening.
It was also pointed out that numerous complaints have been laid to government by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) over the “non-response” from GGMC over a number of outstanding issues.
Earlier this year, government announced plans for a major overhaul of GGMC’s operations.
With gold prices at an all-time high, there has been a rush to the interior, with government recently admitting it is facing environmental and other monitoring problems. With a number of murders and reports of illegal guns and rampant prostitution, GGMC’s operations had been coming under increasing scrutiny.
Guyana’s dense forest and rough terrain have not made monitoring any easier.
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