“Declare every ounce of gold” – Minister urges gold dealers

Feb 11, 2014 News

By Latoya Giles
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Robert Persaud, on Saturday afternoon issued a stern warning to gold miners to ensure that all gold is declared in the coming year.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud.

The Minister was at the time addressing several executives within the gold sector at a cocktail event, to celebrate the appointment of the new Commissioner for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Rickford Vieira and Chairman Clinton Williams.
According to the Minister, his ministry has been receiving reports and allegations of gold smuggling. Persaud noted that since this has been brought to the attention of his ministry they were working towards confronting the issue head on.
Notwithstanding the fact that the gold sector has done well in 2013 with its record declaration of gold, much more could have been achieved, Persaud stressed. He said that miners and dealers in the gold sector must be saluted for the record declaration accomplished in 2013.
The Minister emphasized that more focus must be placed on 2014. He said that this would help expand growth and diversify the sector by ensuring that all resources are fully developed and utilized in harmony with the environment and social responsibility.
Persaud said that because of the unpredictable and unstable nature of minerals they must diversify. Persaud said that they must ensure that the country’s resources are fully developed. We must do it in a harmonious way that is friendly with the environment.
The Minister added that his Ministry would also be looking at strengthening the managerial capacity of the GGMC.
Last year the country recorded the highest ever gold declaration of 458,105 ounces as at December 16, 2013, surpassing the previous highest level of 455, 918 ounces in 2001; which included the declarations of both Omai and small scale operators.
Persaud had noted that the increase in activities has led to greater job opportunities and other positive spinoff effects to the economy. Because of the environmental impact of mining, Government has been working with miners and other stakeholders to see greater compliance.
In fact, Government and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have been working to constantly improve sustainable mining across Guyana.
Persaud had said that he was conscious that this would require tougher monitoring and enforcement as GGMC has been doing in a number of areas.