Despite devastating impacts from severe flooding and the global COVID-19 pandemic, the mining sector has been resilient and must be applauded for maintaining its contribution to the country’s economy, according to Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Commissioner Newell Dennison.
“In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, unprecedented flooding of the hinterlands has affected so many operations that the sector must be applauded for surviving and still very much maintaining, for the economic good of Guyana, its contributions to the coffers of the Consolidated Fund,” Dennison on Sunday night said at a ceremony to mark the start of Mining Week, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
Mining Week 2022 is being observed under the theme “Emerging from Adversity, Transitioning to Sustainability.”
Dennison said even as government responds with aid and relief measures to assist miners to bounce back from the impacts of the floods and the pandemic, they themselves took matters into their own hands to sustain the sector. As a result, he suggested that an academic study be pursued to highlight management tools used
At the same time, Dennison said even as the sector is progressing, the culture of reckless mining by unlawful operators must be addressed. This, he highlighted, is one of the main issues mining officers are constantly faced with when confronting illegal mining in the sector.
“..The sector may have to seriously consider again establishing more benchmarks to encourage those entering… being better prepared, all in the name of avoiding the penalties,” he added.
Addressing the importance of this year’s theme, Dennison said there must be a shift in mindset and better infrastructure in the sector.
“The conversation [about] transitioning into sustainability has to do with better designed infrastructure, including more permanent infrastructure. Management in relation to the usage of infrastructure and, again, a shift in mindset about access and usability of this infrastructure,” he noted.
He went on to say that Guyana must embrace a policy that will aid in the achievement of a sustainable mining sector and not rely on oil and gas.
He stated that in the sustainability policy they must look at alternatives and proper management of the poisonous substances used in the extraction of and processing of minerals in mining circuits.
Meanwhile, Chairman Jimmy Reece that the GGMC Board of Directors is cognisant of the challenging times in the industry and the need to strengthen efforts to achieve the necessary balance between employment and economic benefits.
He stated that they have been making efforts to reduce the use of mercury in mining activities, while noting that there has been a decrease in the importation of mercury for mining activities since Guyana signed on to the Minamata Convention.
“There has been a gradual decline in mercury imports since our ratification to the convention in 2014,” he stated.
Reece also acknowledged challenges arising as a result of concessions granted on indigenous people’s lands but maintained that the GGMC has to act in accordance with the law and court judgments. “It is imperative to note that we can only act within the confines of the law and the judicial court ruling. We have acted and will continue to act within the confines of our statutory obligations under the mining act and its regulations and always seek to facilitate mutual agreements between miners and indigenous villages to ensure that there’s a balance between economic activity and the environment and the livelihood of our indigenous communities,” he said.
His comment came against the background of recent indigenous lands right issues highlighted by the case of residents of Chinese Landing, who have been seeking redress for mining activities being undertaken on their lands without their prior consent.
The Tassawini mines are located in the centre of Chinese Landing – a titled indigenous village – and the village has said that it was done without their free, prior and informed consent, which is in violation of the Amerindian Act of 2006. The concession was awarded before the community received their land tile and leaders have complained about the operations and their devastating impact but with little in the way of redress. (The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in identifying areas for the government to take measures on, has since proposed consideration be given to suspending or revoking the mining concessions that affect the lands, territories or resources of the Chinese Landing and the Wapichan indigenous peoples until free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) is granted by the indigenous peoples.)
Meanwhile, Reece and later Chairman of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association Andron Alphonso also applauded government for its intervention in the sector.
Alphonso, in a brief address, said the many incentives given to small- and medium-scale miners have allowed the sector to remain standing in the face of adversities.
As they continue to build a resilient sector, he added, with continuous support from government, the industry can easily adapt and rise to the challenge of becoming a sustainable sector.
Miners who gathered at opening of the launch were, however, reminded of the importance of safety in mining operations. Alphonso urged miners to adhere to all safety protocols and implement good mining practices in their camps and other operations.
Sunday’s event saw awards being presented to top producers within the sector. The awardees were Paulo Ceresoli and Clinton Alphonso, who were the Top Gold Producers; Gold Target Exports and Gago Gold Inc, which were the Top Gold Dealers; Jeanne Diaz, Roger Robinson and Keith Cromwell, who were Top Diamond Producers; Toolsie Persaud Quarries, which was recognized as the Best Quarry; and Silica Sand Port, which was recognized as Best Sand Operation.
