Pres. Ali presses for formation of small miners’ consortium

Feb 07, 2026 News

---

…promises support for basic testing, technology, and mining education

(Kaieteur News) – As part of government’s efforts to formalise the small and medium-scale mining sector, improve traceability and reward compliance, President Irfaan Ali has pledged state support for land, trucks and other areas to miners who form consortiums.

He made the disclosure during an engagement in Puruni, Region Seven on Friday. The head-of-state also noted that the administration wants miners to succeed while ensuring their operations align with national development goals.

“We are not trying to make regulations to make things difficult. We have to justify the operations across the region and that is linked directly to declarations, and there are enormous benefits that come to you when you declare your gold legally,” she said

Ali stressed that government investment in the sector comes with an expectation that miners comply with the law, including selling gold through approved channels preferably to the Guyana Gold Board (GCB).

“The only fair thing when we invest in you is for you to follow the laws and to ensure that your operations are all in keeping with the regulations and to ensure that you sell the gold to the rightful places.”

He further explained that legal declarations not only support transparency, but also unlock financial opportunities for miners, including access to bank loans for business expansion and easier access to home ownership.

“When you need to go to the bank, those declarations slips will help you to get loan to grow larger and larger. You want to get a loan to build your homes, those declaration slip are important. So, we want you to be empowered,” Ali said.  He also reminded foreign workers operating in Guyana’s mining industry of their obligation to comply with local laws.

Moreover, President Ali announced plans to address land access challenges by clustering small miners in designated areas under a consortium model, allowing shared use of equipment and services.

“I know land for small miners is the big issue. But listen to me carefully, it is uneconomical for a hundred small miners to be in a hundred different locations…if you’re together in one locality, instead of a hundred trucks, we can help you invest in five trucks, you can then come together and have one set of equipment that support all of the operation…all we ask in return is for you to do the right thing, do not go down the wrong road,” he stated.

President Ali noted too that government intends to have these groups formalised within the next two months. He also pledged government support to help with some of the basic testing, technology, and mining education.

“I want these groups to be formed so within the next two months, in the first quarter. We can have those allocations directly to these small miners consortium and we can help you through the financial system, write up your proposal and get the backing for you,” Ali noted.

Guyana’s gold declarations rebound in 2024 and 2025, rising by a combined 52,208 ounces after years of decline. The gold sector recorded a nominal increase in 2024, with declarations rising by 1,954 ounces from 432,113 ounces in 2023 to 434,067 ounces. In 2025, declarations rose by 50,254 ounces to reach 484,321 ounces. Last year, declarations from licensed gold dealers declined by 21.5 per cent in 2025 to 121,883 ounces. However, declarations from the country’s lone large-scale producer, Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd, operating through its subsidiary Aurora Gold Mine (AGM), increased by 15.5 per cent to 167,005 ounces and declarations to the GGB also rose by 45.6 percent to 195,432 ounces.

For 2026, the government has projected declarations of 510,450 ounces as mining activity accelerates across all operator categories.

President Ali stressed that government wants to work with miners to achieve and possibly surpass the targets. “That is why we are going through this phase of having everyone become compliant. We want you, whether you are foreign worker or foreign dredge owner, we want you to have documentation,” President Ali noted.

Among other commitments, the president said teams will be deployed to Puruni to assist miners with regularisation, documentation and digital identification. “So do not look at this period of getting things right, of regularising your operation as a period of difficulty. This is a period that will benefit you tremendously in the long term,” he noted.

Moreover, the president also announced plans for the Puruni area including improved infrastructure and services, including the establishment of a forestry office, a mining community policing group, completion of the Puruni Bridge, and enhanced healthcare services with a 4×4 ambulance.

“Also, one of the mining groups is about to conclude arrangement to build their own airstrip in close proximity to Puruni, we are going to negotiate so that airstrip can also be used by miners here and used for emergency,” he noted.

He further noted that within six weeks government expects everyone to be fully complaint and declaring their gold to through the correct channels.

Over the past few months, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Police Force have been cracking down on illegal mining operations across the country. Several operations were dismantled, gold and equipment seized and persons prosecuted.

Government has a mandatory local bank account requirements and compulsory updates of personal records for all miners and stakeholders, combined with other measures to curb unlawful practices that weaken declarations.

---

• Gold Mining, Irfaan Ali, Puruni, small miners

---