Latest update March 13th, 2026 12:35 AM
Ronaldo Alphonso re-elected GGDMA President
… calls for immediate cessation of gold smuggling
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) at its Annual General Meeting re-elected Ronaldo Alphonso, who was unopposed, as its president for the next two years.
Joining Alphonso are Dabria Marcus – Vice-President, Azeem Baksh – Secretary, Patrick Harding – Treasurer, Geraldo Alphonso – Organizing Secretary, Terrence Adams – Committee Member, Mr. Terry Singh – Committee Member, Vishanti Balgobin – Committee Member, Shawn King – Committee Member and Andron Alphonso – Immediate Past President.
President of the GGDMA, Ronaldo Alphonso
David Bacchus, Charles DaSilva and Alfro Alphonso, all founder members of the association will serve on the board as ex-officio members/ advisors.
Meanwhile, in his short message to the members, Alphonso called on miners to immediately put an end to smuggling by refusing to sell to unlicenced buyers and illegal shops.
According to a statement issued by the GGDMA, he disclosed that the association will be “working even more aggressively with the Government of Guyana to help eradicate gold smuggling and the operation of illegal landings and shops.”
Alphonso reminded miners that the gold belongs to the State and the practice of paying and trading in gold must end. He also called on all miners to ramp up their production to help meet the national target set for 2025 while urging them to declare their production soon to ensure that the figures get locked in for 2025. The national target for 2025 is 500,000 ounces.
The president’s call was echoed by other executive members who also spoke to the possible blacklisting of members who are caught in gold smuggling activities. Attendees at the AGM voiced in unison the need to take more decisive action against gold smuggling.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the GGDMA Avalon Jagnandan, in his report informed that the body has seen an increase in membership and urged other miners to become members of the association.
Jagnandan said that in 2024, the GGDMA was instrumental in facilitating duty-free concessions for members and through its open day initiative, several small miners were given assistance to restart the operations.
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