The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has called on the Government to step forward with robust technical assistance to small and medium scale miners in order to ensure sustainable principles are applied to the gold and diamond sectors.
This is in light of the association examining recommendations by the United Nations Environment Programme on the introduction of green economy ideas.
In a release, the GGDMA said that it is of the view that if the mining engineers, mineral processing engineers, environmentalists and geologists of the Guyana Geology Mines Commission (GGMC) bring technical assistance to small and medium scale miners, the problems would be greatly reduced.
“Exploration would be enhanced; processing recovery would move from 40 percent to 80 percent; environmental management would be strengthened; and safety would be assured. In addition, the presence of the GGMC technical officers would be the best way to achieve compliance at no extra cost,” the association said.
In response to rising challenges for the benefit of its members and civil society, the GGDMA said that it has been engaged in a number of initiatives. “These initiatives include identifying global best practices in mineral exploration, mineral processing with special emphasis on improved mercury free gold recovery technologies and techniques and remediation on mined out lands.”
Recognising that the small and medium mining industry must evolve and adapt in response to changing circumstances, the association says that it has partnered with local and international agencies and has undertaken the task of investigating and identifying problems and challenges associated with current mineral exploration and land remediation along with identifying global best practices which would be applicable to Guyana.
The GGDMA also commended miners for the sustained growth trend in the gold mining industry of Guyana over the past ten years. “This achievement of miners continues to be the main driver of economic development together with poverty alleviation in Guyana.”
The association also noted that it recognises the growth of individual miners up the scale from small miners to successful medium scale gold producers.
