While reiterating government’s commitment, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), to explore ways to improve current mining practices with more efficient and environmentally safe technology, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Robert Persaud has called for greater collaboration between Amazonian South American countries in sharing suitable experiences and technologies for environmentally safe mining practices.
According to a release, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Robert Persaud on Tuesday, made these remarks prior to the screening of a film entitled Amazon Gold which highlighted the impact of mercury in gold mining.
The event was organised by his ministry and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Dr Patrick Williams, Country Manager, WWF, Sarah DuPont, Amazon Gold and Dr Luis Fernandez, Specialist on the impact of mercury in gold mining were also present.
Minister Persaud highlighted that the government had an aggressive stakeholder approach programme in keeping with the new international convention to control mercury emissions which was signed in Japan – the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The agreement is an international response to the reality that mercury pollution is a global problem that no country can address unilaterally.
