For years, small-scale miners in Guyana’s interior faced a costly, time-consuming hurdle whenever they needed to open a bank account: a long trip out of the mining districts to Georgetown. That changed this week when government agencies brought banking services directly to Puruni.
Just weeks after President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali visited the community on Feb. 6 and pledged to expand financial access for miners, a government-led outreach set up at Puruni began offering on‑site account openings with accredited financial institutions. The two‑day exercise, organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the Small Miners Association, runs Thursday and Friday from 08:00 to 12:00.
Under current regulations, miners applying for or renewing a mining permit or dredge licence must hold an account at an accredited bank. Until now, meeting that requirement frequently forced miners to lose workdays and incur travel costs to the capital. By bringing banks to the mining camp, authorities say they are removing a significant barrier for small and medium‑scale operators.
“For many miners, this is more than paperwork — it’s opportunity,” a ministry representative said at the outreach.
Among those welcoming the move was James Brown, a miner originally from the Rupununi who now works in Puruni. Brown described the initiative as timely and practical for miners who cannot afford to leave their operations for extended periods.
“For the very first time, I feel so happy to see the President face to face in Puruni,” Brown said, recalling the president’s visit on Feb. 6, when he posed for a photo with Dr. Ali. He added that similar initiatives, combined with improved infrastructure and an increased security presence, could materially improve life and work across the mining district.
The outreach is part of a broader government push to support miners while strengthening compliance with national mining regulations. Officials say mobile and community‑based services like this one aim to make regulatory requirements more accessible without disrupting miners’ livelihoods.
Miners attending the event in Puruni lined up early to complete documentation and open accounts, signalling local approval for services delivered where and when they are needed. Government and association representatives said they will evaluate the pilot outreach with a view to expanding similar services to other mining communities across the country.
