Terrence Adams is President of the GGDMA

Sep 12, 2015 News

– as outgoing President highlights needs of mining workers

The newly elected executives with Terrence Adams, President (seated second right)

Following a voting session at the 32nd annual general meeting of the Guyana Geology and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Terrence Adams was elected President, with Andrew Alfonso elected as the Vice President. Mahendra Persaud was elected Secretary, and Ajay Baksh, the treasurer.
In his address following his election, Adams promised to represent the Association to the best of his ability. He added that there will be a meeting early next week with the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.
Adams is replacing Patrick Harding, who used his final opportunity as President to do an in depth review of the mining industry and its challenges.
Harding said that the industry was struggling—it was trying to combat falling gold prices down from US$1,800 to under US$1,100 as of yesterday. Then there were high operational costs, increases in criminal activities and illegal mining, impassible roadways and the increase in mining accidents.
Harding was critical of the “ineffective support” to the mining industry from the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
He noted that the GGMC does not have a functioning Chairman and Board of Directors. He called on the government to appoint a Chairman and Board of Directors, as the current Commissioner, Rickford Viera was hampered in his decision making authority.
He went on to note that because there is no board, contracts for road building, repairs and maintenance are not being evaluated.
Harding reminded the gathering that at one time, over 40% of gold declarations were going to the GGB’s Bartica branch. He asked the pertinent question, “Where is that gold being sold?” since that branch was closed last year.
Harding made a strident call for several incentives, including reduction on payable royalties on gold sales, reduction in mining rentals and the same tax rate of 10 per cent being enjoyed by large scale mining establishments on fuel to be extended to small and medium miners
The GGDMA was established in 1982 and is now registered under the Trade Union’s Act. According to its mandate, its purpose is to enter into negotiations with the relevant authorities, including the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
It also makes binding agreements on behalf its membership, which comprises all miners from large scale to small.