New legislative policies for mining and forestry sector underway - Trotman

New legislative policies for mining and forestry sector underway — Trotman

Jul 10, 2016 News

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has indicated that many changes are underway for the mining and forestry sectors.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

The Minister said that regulations for mining are currently under review by his Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
Trotman said that before the end of this year, “We will bring several areas of proposed change to the attention of the National Assembly. The Minister said that he is very interested in addressing and revamping safety regulations.
“Safety is a major concern for us; we are looking to strengthen the regulations in the mining sector in this particular area.” The Minister said that his Ministry is also looking to address environmental degradation.
He said, “Even if mining or forestry disrupts the environment we should be able to restore, replant, and reclaim as much as is possible; so before the end of the year we will be introducing legislation to pay attention to those two particular areas.’
With regard to forestry, the Minister said that there are lots of things happening in the forestry sector that his Ministry is not too happy with.
He said that he has received some detailed recommendation from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and will be reviewing them soon.
Trotman said that these recommendations include the raising of fees and penalties. “There were also some other recommendations for general areas of tightening up. I am to engage the Board and before the end of the year those should come on stream as well.”
Indeed there have been indications suggesting that there is great need for the changes the Ministry of Natural Resources has in mind.
There have been numerous mining pits cave in which will speak to the need for better and stiffer safety regulations.
The woes in the forestry sector seem to be more intricate. Auditors reported on rogue logging companies that have not been the rules and regulations and have gotten off with less than a slap on the wrist. The company that has been pointed out to be most out of line is BaiShanLin.
The GFC is still to address much of what was highlighted while the government remains willing to negotiate with the company.