Gold miners hail govt’s efforts to break up illegal mining operations

Jun 06, 2025 News

Kaieteur News – The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has commended the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) for their ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal mining operations.

In a statement on Thursday, GGDMA said that it has consistently appealed to the authorities to eradicate illegal mining and raiding. The association said it has not wavered in its firm stance against these activities, which tarnish the reputation of the sector and that of law-abiding miners and minimise the value of the sector’s contribution to our economy. “The GGDMA thanks the Government for its swift and decisive action in combating such illicit activities that are linked to gold smuggling operations, which result in massive losses of taxes and royalties to the state coffers,” the statement read.

According to the GGDMA, while they welcome foreign investment and the introduction of new technologies to the local sector by non-native operators, the association is particularly concerned that a significant number of the illegal mining operations recently seized were found to be owned and operated by non-Guyanese nationals. “Non-nationals are guests in our country, they have been given the privilege, not the right, to mine in Guyana. Foreigners who trample on this privilege by violating laws and regulations, in particular repeat offenders, must face the strongest repercussions possible and further, should be banned from mining due to their flagrant disregard for the rule of law,” the mining body said in the statement.

The GGDMA said it is alarming that a number of repeat offenders who have been known to engage in illegal activities in the past were once again caught “red-handed” during recent enforcement activities. “These criminals are falsely self-identifying as ‘small miners’. The Association firmly rejects this misrepresentation. True small miners are hardworking contributors to the sector and should not have their reputation sullied by criminals masquerading as such. The GGDMA remains committed to supporting and defending the interests of genuine small-scale miners.”

The association also reminded all miners that gold must be sold only to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) or to authorised buyers. “Authorised buyers include Dealers licenced by the GGB and Licensed Traders in gold as approved by the GGMC.” A list of approved dealers can be found here https://ggb.gov.gy/dealers/. A list of approved traders can be found here https://www.ggmc.gov.gy/document/

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