The main opposition party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), asserts that digitalizing the compliance system within the Gold Mining Industry would enhance compliance, improve declarations, and facilitate easier operations, especially for small and medium-scale miners.
WIN Member of Parliament Dr. Andre Lewis referenced the recent actions of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), which suspended operations for 107 Brazilian nationals, as indicative of ongoing compliance challenges. This announcement followed the GGMC’s demand that all gold miners declare their production for 2025.
Dr. Lewis emphasized that if the bureaucratic barriers were removed, declarations could be greatly improved. Miners would benefit from the ability to make declarations directly from their camp sites, reducing the need for arduous travel and paperwork.
“While mining regulation is necessary, it is often the small and medium-scale miners who bear the brunt of the pressure,” remarked Dr. Lewis. “Many operate remotely and lack the ease of access to banking services, gold board offices, and government services that those on the coastline enjoy. The associated costs of paperwork, travel, and reporting can be burdensome. WIN believes that the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources should urgently enhance services for small and medium-scale miners and implement a digital compliance system to simplify declarations, payments, and record-keeping.”
Referring to the recent data reported by the Government, which indicates an 11.6% expansion in the Gold Mining Industry with total declarations reaching 484,321 ounces in 2025, Dr. Lewis expressed skepticism about the accuracy of these figures. He suspects that the numbers may be inflated to portray an overly positive view of the sector’s performance.
WIN contends that a considerable amount of gold is being smuggled, arguing that the government’s declarations may not accurately reflect the true state of the gold mining industry in Guyana.
