Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, said that government’s actions more than demonstrates its commitment to the vision of providing an enabling environment that supports miners. He was at the time speaking at a symposium hosted by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) yesterday in Georgetown. 
He attributed the “record” gold declaration figures of 3,068,648 ozs from 2015-2019, which generated revenue of USD$3,792,066 dollars.
“The efforts which underpin these declarations, are best understood by a reflection on some key areas of achievement in the last five years. To date, GYD$ 7,720,173, 818 (7.7 Billion) has been invested to build, rehabilitate and maintain interior roads for easier access to mining lands, while seasonal maintenance of roads in areas that have been a challenge traditionally, has improved,” he said.
He said that in 2019, the Ministry of Natural Resources took over responsibility for maintenance of the Linden to Lethem Road, resulting in significantly reduced downtime for miners plying their trade.
Other key road works completed and ongoing include:
1. Region #1: Rehabilitation of the road from Wanaina to Yarakita, the M4 Junction to Noseno Road, as well as maintenance of the road from Manaka to Karrau (Regions 1 to 7).
2. Region #7: Rehabilitation & maintenance of the road from Itaballi Landing to Puruni Landing, Puruni Landing & Pappyshou, and Granny Road to Waiamu Landing.
3. Region #8: Rehabilitation of the road from Mango Landing to Mahdia.
4. Region #9: Construction of the road interlinking Amerindian Villages in North Rupununi (Rodeo Ground to Centre) – Complete, additional work to be done.
Additionally, Trotman said that the Ministry has created a more enabling environment for miners, by granting tax concessions on machinery, equipment, fuel and vehicles for small and medium scale miners, a reduction in the Tributor’s Tax from 20% to 10% and a sliding scale percentage based on the price of gold, which replaced the 2% of gross proceeds. This was facilitated by Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed between the Ministry of Finance and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the Guyana Women Miners Association (GWMO) for a duration of 2 years instead of annually.
Further, he stated that the ministry facilitated more access to land for mining, through mining lotteries, the Syndicate initiative and the Closed Area Committee (CAC). For 2019 alone, over 550 blocks of land have been allocated through lotteries and Syndicates. The ministry would have also approved the conversion of several medium scale-prospecting permits to mining permits; the setting up of a grievance desk to hear and respond to the concerns of miners; initiated training for first time and seasoned miners and stakeholders; and initiated and significantly advanced the process of restructuring for all Natural Resources’ agencies, to facilitate more efficiency in transactions, access to data and payment options for miners.
Additionally, Trotman said that strategic emphasis would have been placed on security through the establishment of the Corps of Wardens whose mandate is to ensure better governance and compliance within the sector. The Corp currently has over 40 well-trained wardens, dispersed in the hinterland to police the full gamut of the natural resources sector.
