GGMC shuts down 107 Brazilian gold operations

Jan 06, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – Three days after a 24-hour deadline for miners to up their declarations and get themselves aligned with Guyana’s laws and requirements for the local mining sector was issued by President Irfaan Ali, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission on Monday announced the suspension of mining operations of 107 Brazilians.

In a release, the commission said subject to the immediate suspension of all mining operations, Permissions to Operate, and any related authorizations.

“Such suspension takes effect immediately and shall remain in force pending the affected persons’ engagement with, and compliance to the satisfaction of, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission,” the oversight body relayed.

GGMC shuts down 107 Brazilian gold operations

Over 100 Brazilian gold miners have had their mining licences suspended.

It said the notice was issued without prejudice to any further regulatory or enforcement action which the commission may lawfully pursue.

Last Friday, President Ali had given foreign gold miners, particularly Brazilian nationals, who have had low to zero declarations, 24-hours to fully comply with local laws and the requirements surrounding gold declaration.

The head of state had earlier met with the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) at state house, where instructions were given to immediately address non-compliance in the gold mining sector.

According to the president, all gold miners must fully comply with their obligations to declare all gold produced in 2025. He further directed that all registered dredges with no declarations will be deregistered. “All foreign miners operating illegally in Guyana must be identified for prosecution and expulsion. It was also noted that some Brazilian miners operating in Guyana have had very low or no declarations. These miners have 24 hours to comply fully with the laws of Guyana and the requirement to declare to the Guyana Gold Board,” the post stated.

He said the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the MNR will work together to ensure that all miners, across every category, are registered with the ministry and have a local bank account.

The meeting with officials of MNR, GGMC and GGDMA followed a recent announcement by President Ali that there would be a comprehensive assessment of Guyana’s mining sector to be completed and presented on January 5, as the government moves to strengthen accountability, environmental protection and production compliance across the industry.

President Ali had explained that the assessment will review every mining license, claim, and operational decision, with firm action to follow where miners fail to declare production or hold lands without productive use.

The head of state also announced that gold declarations will now be linked to mercury purchases to reduce under-declaration, environmental harm, and illegal activities in the industry. “We are going to link the mercury they buy with their declarations. If they have land that they are working on and there is no declaration, those lands will be repossessed,” the president stated.

He stressed that environmental destruction without production will not be tolerated. “There is no sense destroying the environment if there is no production,” President Ali added.

He observed that the mining sector, which faced a serious decline, has recovered, thanks to significant financial incentives that have helped protect miners and workers during global crises and supported communities near rivers and in remote areas.

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Brazil, GGDMA, gold, mining licences

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