Latest update March 12th, 2026 9:56 PM
Govt., GGDMA move to tighten enforcement amid reduced gold declarations
(Kaieteur News) – The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in collaboration with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) will be rolling out a series of enhanced measures aimed at addressing reduced gold declarations.
During a high-level meeting held on December 10, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat emphasised the Government of Guyana’s commitment to ensuring that Guyana’s mineral resources are managed responsibly, transparently, and in accordance with the law. He reminded that since 2020, the Government has delivered unprecedented technical, financial and regulatory support to the sector and its stakeholders. The minister also noted that government has made significant enhancements to the sector’s guiding regulations, as well as supporting compulsory training for miners.
Following discussions, the meeting agreed on a series of enhanced enforcement measures to be rolled out immediately. Among them is tighter oversight of gold dealers and traders. The ministry will intensify regulatory scrutiny of all licensed dealers, including stricter audits of purchasing records, verification of source declarations and routine compliance checks. Notably, dealers found facilitating undeclared transactions or failing to meet reporting obligations could face sanctions, including suspension or revocation of licences.
The ministry also plans to significantly scale-up field monitoring and enforcement operations across mining districts to target unauthorised activities and ensure compliance with environmental, safety and production reporting requirements.
Agencies under MNR’s purview have been instructed to intensify the seizure of equipment operating without legal documentation or in prohibited areas, as part of what officials described as a zero-tolerance approach to illegal mining. In addition, multi-agency field operations involving the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and other agencies will be expanded to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals and groups engaged in illegal mining.
Further, MNR and the GGDMA have also urged miners to sell gold only to the Guyana Gold Board or licensed dealers, stressing that this is critical to accurate national production data, fair trade and proper accounting of the sector’s benefits.
It was also outlined that workers must not be paid in raw gold and must instead be compensated through lawful financial channels in keeping with labour and tax laws. The MNR warned that paying workers in gold undermines transparency, weakens declaration accuracy and exposes workers to exploitation and unsafe practices. Increased inspections are planned, with penalties for employers found in breach of labour and tax regulations.
Miners were further reminded that it is illegal to allow what is commonly referred to as the “Blai box,” and that gold may only be used in transactions with approved buyers and the Guyana Gold Board (GGB).
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working in partnership with the GGDMA and all legitimate miners to strengthen the sector. Further, Minister Bharrat noted that while enforcement will be sharply increased, the government remains open to continuous dialogue and collaboration to address industry challenges and support responsible mining practices.
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