The draft report on new mining rules will be considered at a meeting of the Special Land Use Committee (SLUC) tomorrow.

A draft has been completed and members of the committee have been dealing with a few outstanding matters, said President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Frederick McWilfred. He declined to say what these “outstanding matters” were. The Committee will consider the report, looking to reach agreement on all the issues, before a final report is sent to President Bharrat Jagdeo and Cabinet.  He said that he does not expect that the report will be finalized at tomorrow’s session.

The SLUC had been set up earlier this year by Jagdeo to look into mining issues after miners raised concerns that the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) would affect their operations and livelihoods. The SLUC was set up after widespread protests by miners over a stipulation by the GGMC that notice had to be given before mining could start.