GGMC making mining “more accessible” to Region 10 residents

Sep 29, 2012 News

Region 10 residents interested in becoming small and medium scale miners now have the opportunity to join the mining sector, regardless of limited resources.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud said that for the first time Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) will be offering special provisions in its lottery in relation to geographical locations.
According to Persaud, new miners within Linden – the primary mining district of Region 10 – participating in the lottery are now exempted from the ownership of dredges and other equipment.

Attendees at the ‘New Entrants Seminar’

He noted that this is part of the Ministry’s deliberate strategy of encouraging and supporting new entrants in the sector. This initiative will be taken across the country to ensure opportunities are made available to a wider cross-section of Guyanese.
“We want to remove this belief that the mining sector is something remote and only a few can appreciate that,” Persaud said.
He made those remarks yesterday at the Ministry’s “New Entrants Seminar” held under the theme ‘Investments for Sustainable Mine Management’. The venue was the Sleep Inn Hotel, Brickdam.
“We hope that through this type of seminar and awareness we can encourage support and many will look at expanding opportunities for more Guyanese to be involved in the sector,” Persaud related.
Commenting on the upcoming October 3 lottery, the second for the year, Persaud said the Ministry is targeting small and medium scale miners. Preference will be given to persons who do not own land and mining properties.
Commending the initiative by the Ministry, President of the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization, Simona Broomes, emphasized that the new lottery system and special arrangements for Linden, will help more women get into the mining sector.
She noted that more than 30 women in Linden have already applied to participate in the lottery. However, not many persons in the community were aware of the lottery. Nonetheless, persons are pleased that residents of Linden were given this opportunity in light of the price of gold.
According to Persaud, “We have shared with our stakeholders, concept papers to develop a policy in developing small miners, and I know the GGDMA (Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association) is currently reviewing.”
While encouraging potential miners among attendees at the seminar to join the sector, Persaud was frank about the hurdles that are present in the interior. He stressed that miners have to be willing to take risks, but the benefits are overwhelming.
An important aspect of the seminar was informing potential miners and miners of their responsibilities towards the environment. Sustainable mining has always been high on the agenda of GGMC. It was stressed that the agency oftentimes encounters difficulties and strained relationships with some miners who are deviant.
Persaud emphasized that it is hoped that by provision of relevant information for new miners there will be conformity, thus enhancing the mining sector.