Government is examining the possibility of setting up a court to deal with mining matters, according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon.
“Going to court is wasting a lot of time and we were advised of the provision in the Act for a Mining Officer, which is a particular magistrate who is assigned to deal with mining matters… We will explore that possibility to ensure that a particular magistrate is designated for that purpose, even if it’s one day or two days a week to deal with mining matters so that these matters can be cleared up as quickly as possible…,” Harmon said at a luncheon celebrating the 36th anniversary of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) last week. Harmon has ministerial responsibility for the GGMC.
According to a report from the Government Information Agency (GINA), Harmon had noted that at a meeting between President David Granger and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) as well as several members of the GGMC, it was mentioned that