Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter headlined ‘We should welcome Brazilians’ by Mr Tony Vieira, published in SN on Monday September 15, 2008, and write to correct a major misconception by many Guyanese.
1. There are no mining regulations specific to Brazilians; all foreigners mining in Guyana are subject to the same laws and regulations.
2. Brazilians can and do mine legally in Guyana. The existing mining laws state that no foreigner can apply for a licence to mine within the small/medium-scale category; they can, however, apply to prospect and mine in the large-scale category. In addition there are no laws which prevent foreigners from entering into joint-venture agreements with licensed Guyanese small/medium-scale miners.
As a matter of fact, any illegal mining by foreigners takes place with those Guyanese who do not have claims or medium-scale licences, and as a consequence they cannot enter into joint-venture agreements, which is apparently the case particularly on Amerindian titled lands.
With reference to selling on the black market, it is no longer the law to sell only to the Gold Board. Many individuals and companies are licensed to purchase gold and to export same.
All for the information of the general public.
Yours faithfully,
Edward Shields
Executive Director
Guyana Gold and
Diamond
Miners Association
