During a visit to the mining hub of Puruni on Friday, President Dr. Irfaan Ali outlined several promises aimed at improving access to services and developing a dedicated mining area for small miners. This initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to engage directly with workers in the sector.
Acknowledging the hard work of miners, President Ali expressed the government’s commitment to supporting these individuals. He announced that within the next month, commercial banks would send representatives to mining communities to assist miners in opening bank accounts. This move will facilitate proper registration of their operations and ensure compliance with local regulations.
“Once these requisite processes are finished, the government will be better positioned to assist,” President Ali stated. He revealed plans for the government to identify designated land for a consortium of small miners, along with proposals for developing essential infrastructure and assisting with equipment and transportation needs.
Additionally, the President mentioned that these initiatives would allow local authorities to conduct gold declarations directly in the mining areas, eliminating the need for miners to leave their camps to visit Guyana Gold Board offices.
“Within the next two months, we will have allocations to small miners’ consortium… all we ask in return is for you to do the right thing,” President Ali emphasized, highlighting that this support aims to help miners create wealth.
In recent months, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has tightened oversight within the gold mining sector, implementing mandatory local bank account requirements and compulsory updates of personal records for all miners. These measures are part of a broader national initiative to combat illegal activities, environmental abuse, and gold smuggling. The Commission has made it clear that non-compliance could impact the processing and renewal of licenses and permits.
President Ali reassured miners that these regulations are not punitive. Instead, they are intended to promote good governance in the sector, facilitating easier land allocations and better government support as declarations are made.
