Dear Editor,
The Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) and the National Mining Syndicate (NMS) welcome the Government’s efforts to support the mining sector through the provision of tax concessions on equipment and ATVs. Both agencies agree that this incentive has propelled industry growth in the past and will definitely continue to do so; as the Government seeks to support small and medium scale miners in the face of declining large scale production.
The membership of the GWMO and NMS play critical roles in the realization of Government’s 0.7 percent projected growth. The importance of each mining organization working cohesively for the development of the mining industry has been firmly acknowledged by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) in their attempt to establish the Miners United Movement (MUM). It is our interpretation that the benefits for the mining industry outlined in the 2020 National Budget are intended for the entire industry, by the use of terms such as: miners, small miners and medium scale miners. The practical and fair realization of the delivery of the tax concessions can only be realized through the involvement of all mining organizations.
The Guyana Women Miners Organisation and the National Mining Syndicate wish to clearly state that we were not consulted prior to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) decision to process concessions on equipment and ATVs through the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association. Our respective governing bodies object to this approach and our membership will not be complying with this mechanism. Further, the GRA and the GGDMA agreement is a direct contradiction of the Government’s intent to “…improve the ease of doing business…” as posited in the 2020 National Budget. A system truly designed to increase efficiency should incorporate the pathways to access tax concessions through all mining organizations and not replace one bottleneck with another.
The Guyana Women Miners Organisation and the National Mining Syndicate strongly recommend the revision of the GGDMA-GRA Agreement to include our respective mining organizations. The recommended revision will foster the inclusion of women in mining as well as small scale miners; two significant stakeholders that feel excluded by way of the current agreement.
We are confident the Government, by way of the Guyana Revenue Authority, will continue to serve all Guyanese and all miners.
Yours faithfully,
Urica Primus
Guyana Women Miners
Organisation