The Government of Guyana needs to take decisive action in curbing illegal mining activities that have significantly impacted gold declarations. This is the contention of Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament (MP) Juretha Fernandes. On Friday, she highlighted the recent report by the United States Treasury Department which flagged illegal mining activities in Guyana and the fact that three persons faced sanctions for such acts.
“We have the data to support what we have been warning about from the beginning,” Fernandes stated, referring to reports from the US.
Fernandes pointed out that while there has been work done to monitor small-scale miners who often face their own set of challenges, such as accessing mining locations, the more pressing issue lies within the medium-scale mining sector. The MP noted that illegal activities in this area have led to a significant drop in gold declarations, a trend that has been consistently observed.
A similar call to action was given by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) in June following the issuance of the US Treasury Department’s report. The organization heavily criticized the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for its lax oversight within the mining sector noting that this state of affairs has led to a flourishing culture of lawlessness and illegal activities, which are the bedrock of rampant gold smuggling in the country.
According to the GGDMA, the roots of the gold smuggling crisis lie in a series of unchecked illegal activities within the mining sector, including unauthorized mining operations, unregulated trading posts, and the proliferation of illegal gold shops in the interior regions of Guyana. The association contended that the GGMC’s ineffectiveness in curbing these activities has created an environment conducive to smuggling, thereby undermining the legitimacy of the gold trade in the country.
Moreover, the GGDMA had highlighted that the GGMC’s approach to enforcement has been alarmingly lenient, allowing illegal operators to repeatedly flout the law without facing significant consequences.
Over the years, the representative body said many offenders have been treated with what it describes as “slaps on the wrists,” a practice that has emboldened illegal miners and traders. Equipment seized from repeat offenders is often returned within days, and illegal operations that are shut down one day are typically back in business the next.
