– as 300,000 ounces target set
With a target of 300,000 ounces of gold at year end, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is appealing to miners to declare all gold to the Guyana Gold Board and legitimate buyers.
GGDMA has surpassed last year’s figures in addition to reaching the nationally set target by the board, but the association is pushing for the revised 300,000 ounces target saying that the industry is under threat from external forces.
Executive Director of GGMDA, Anthony Shields was quoted in a press release as saying “all must be done” to guarantee the continued survival of the industry. Shields also called on miners not to sell to unlicenced dealers.
According to the press release, GGDMA is demanding greater respect for the contributions of the sector given that 30% of all foreign export comes from the gold and diamond mining sector.
It stated too that gold production has steadily been increasing and the target of 300,000 ounces, if achieved, will establish the mining sector as the largest foreign exchange earner for the country.
Further, the release noted that the 300,000 ounces target is significant because it would be achieved without the input of large scale gold miners, but instead the efforts of small and medium scale miners in the industry. The overarching theme in the industry this year is, ‘Mining too big to fail’.