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Jittery gold miners set to meet over crackdown, poor declarations

Jun 22, 2014 News

 

Amidst a disturbing 20% decline in gold declarations for the first five months of this year, Government has called gold miners and dealers to a meeting tomorrow to discuss the implications.
This followed a statement earlier this week, in which the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) insisted that poor production is to be blamed for the low declaration.
The issue has been a talking point in recent weeks after allegations came out that one dealer, with close ties to the Government, has been involved in smuggling gold across the borders to neighbouring Suriname.
According to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), in an advertisement Thursday in Kaieteur News, it is currently engaging GGDMA and licenced gold dealers to ensure that all matters of gold declaration and the legal trading of gold is done within the confines of the Laws of Guyana.
Tomorrow’s meeting is to further deliberate on matters of collaboration to ensure that the gold mining sector efficiently serves the national economy, the Gold Board said.
GGDMA itself, in a separate advertisement, reported that it is set to host a meeting next Thursday at its North Road offices to discuss the poor declaration and a notice by the Gold Board to enforce laws which could jail miners if they keep gold beyond 28 days, and shopkeepers if they do so beyond 14 days.
The poor declaration has also triggered a number of actions by Government, including an announcement that it will open up new lands for mining.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Minister Robert Persaud has made submissions to the Cabinet of Ministers on the issue. A decision has been taken to reconvene the Closed Area Committee of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
A meeting set for yesterday by the Committee was set to start identifying mining properties for lottery or auction and “as alternatives for miners who had to relinquish their properties due to the Amerindian titling process. Small miners and new entrants to the mining sector have been calling for mining properties and the lotteries in the various mining districts.”
Miners are worried about the tough stance of the Gold Board. According to that entity in its advertisement on Thursday, its officers are empowered to conduct searches on any premises that are suspected to be in breach of the Act. These individuals may include police and officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
An officer has the right to search premises of persons suspected and seize articles for which there is reasonable cause to believe that there is evidence of the commission of any offence against the Guyana Gold Board Act.
In cases where persons are licenced by GGMC to advance money or supply goods on credit to miners for payment in gold, they are required to inform the Guyana Gold Board of the receipt, and record every transaction in a book kept for that purpose, stating the amount of money advanced and full details. The records must be made available to officers.
The Gold Board also made it clear that all gold produced must be sold to the Gold Board or any authorized dealer within 28 days.

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