In the wake of the stunning heist of 470 pounds of gold in Curacao from a Guyanese boat yesterday, the Government’s “zero tolerance” for gold smuggling was today reiterated by Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud during a meeting with the miners association and licensed gold and diamond dealers.
GINA said today that Persaud convened an emergency meeting with the various stakeholders of the gold sector following reports about the heist on a Guyana fishing vessel which had 470 pounds of gold worth US$11.5 Million.
The Minister said that President Donald Ramotar and the government are very concerned and are treating the report with a “high level of seriousness”. Persaud said the Government and law enforcement sector will work with concerned international authorities to ascertain the source of the gold.
GINA said that the Gold and Diamond Miners Association President, Patrick Harding recalled that all the association members have been urged to sell gold to the Guyana Gold Board or authorised dealers.
According to GINA, the Ministry has also been trying to work with Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela to reduce all forms of illegal minerals trade.
As such, a special task force which will include representatives from the Miners association, law enforcement authorities, Customs and Trade Administration, among other stakeholders has been put together to review the current regulations so as to staunch the smuggling of gold and other minerals.
Minister Persaud was accompanied at the meeting by officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Gold Board.
