Since the start of the year, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has launched a series of outreaches into key mining areas.
President of the GGDMA, Terrence Adams said in a release that the key objective is to ensure that miners understand the role of the association and for it to be able to hear and directly address grievances of the miners in all categories.
The release said that meetings were held at Mahdia, Bartica, and Port Kaituma. Miners raised several issues and at the top of the agenda for the GGDMA was to ensure that miners understood that the association represents all miners and the need to be able to address issues in a speedier manner. To this end, the Association identified regional representatives in the various mining districts, the release said. Miners present at the various outreach meetings were asked to elect two representatives. The elected representatives in each area are as follows:
* Bartica Representatives – Judith Blair and Holbert Knights
* Mahdia Representatives – Timothy Junor and Marabel Thomas
* Port Kaituma Representatives – Edwart Perry and Errol Barrow
Miners in each of the respective areas are encouraged to attend the meetings that will be hosted by the elected regional representatives.
The release said that among issues raised by miners were the availability of lands with reserves, problems with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the state of interior roads and access to mining claims and the absence of a Gold Board office at Mahdia.
During the meeting, the Association also stressed the need for miners to address their tax status and urged them to become tax compliant. The GGDMA said it explained that many of the concessions which they seek are available only to miners who are tax compliant.
The Association also reminded miners that all gold must be sold to the Guyana Gold Board or legitimate dealers and a receipt must be sought for every transaction.
