Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud met staff of the Guyana Gold Board at Bartica and mining officers and rangers at the Guyana Geology Mines and Commission (GGMC) substation in Region Seven to identify areas that need to be reviewed to boost their efficiency.
Forestry, mining, environmental management, wildlife, protected areas, land use planning and coordination and climate change fall under the purview of the new ministry, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
At the weekend, Persaud met with natural resources stakeholders at the substation and checkpoint at Itaballi, Mazaruni to ensure that the ministry would be prepared to respond to the challenges and opportunities under its various sub-sectors.
He also assessed the procedure of action at the two offices and, in order to determine areas that need to be addressed, to better execute their functions.
The minister also informed personnel about government’s vision for the modernisation and complete development of the natural resources sector, starting with upgrading and capacity building at the level of their agencies.
They were also told that new offices will be built at Bartica for the GGMC and Gold Board staff and the ministry will boost its monitoring staff by 100 by year-end. The ministry also plans to establish 12 stations across the mining districts.
Persaud also conducted an inspection of the plant at the Big Hope Quarry, on the right bank of the Mazaruni River. The quarry is one of the crushing plants operated by Baracara Quarries Inc and Guyana Sawmills.
On Saturday, Persaud met with miners to discuss their concerns and to inform them about the ministry’s plans for the sector.
