Guyana struggling to meet UN pact to eliminate use of mercury

Apr 19, 2018 News

Gold mining operations

The ongoing concerns about poisoning at the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) and surrounding areas have raised questions about Guyana’s commitment under a United Nations (UN) pact to eliminate the use of mercury in mining.
Minister of Natural Resources and Labour, Raphael Trotman, told Kaieteur News that while Guyana has made some strides in moving towards the elimination of mercury, many of the miners are oppose.
“Mercury is convenient and so there is great resistance to its eradication. The government need the gold and so has to buy the gold that was amalgamated with mercury, but we are slowly working to minimize and eventually eradicate it,” Minister Trotman stated.
Workers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), who suffered mercury poisoning, are looking to take the government to court.
Despite going public last week with pronouncements that mercury emissions at the GGB laboratory on Brickdam were within “normal” limits, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman has appointed a team of “experts” to look into the state of the facility where the burning of the amalgam is done.
There are at least 60 persons who work in the GGMC compound have tested positive with elevated levels of mercury in their system.
On the issue of eliminating mercury releases into the environment, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has held the position that miners must adhere to the codes of practices and environmental health and safety standards and regulations.
However, the association has noted that there are no viable comparable alternatives proposed.
As a consequence, the GGMDA has not supported the total elimination which is projected by Government for 2027 and the legal banning and trade of mercury.
The association has outlined that to eliminate the use at this time will be tantamount to supporting the end of alluvial mining in Guyana.
Gold is one of the biggest foreign currency earners for Guyana.
Workers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), who suffered mercury poisoning, are looking to take their employer government to court.
Mercury is used in the extraction of gold because it allows for the separation of gold from other materials. Once amalgamation occurs, it then heated to evaporate the mercury, leaving the gold behind.
Under the former administration, Guyana signed on to the Minamata Convention in October 2013, which aims to reduce the risks of mercury around the world.
Last year President David Granger said that Government intends to not just reduce, but to eliminate the use of mercury in the mining industry.

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