By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud has issued a stern warning to gold miners to ensure that all gold is declared in the coming year.
According to Persaud, he has been receiving reports and allegations of gold smuggling and as such will be confronting the issue head on. He said although the sector has done well in 2013 with its record declaration of gold, much more could have been achieved.
He was at the time speaking at an event at the recently opened 704 Sports Bar in Georgetown to celebrate the appointment of the new Commissioner for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Rickford Vieira and Chairman Clinton Williams on Saturday, February 8.
The Minister said miners and dealers in the gold sector must be saluted for the record declaration accomplished in 2013.
He added that the focus in 2014 will be to expand growth and diversify the sector by ensuring that all resources are fully developed and utilized in harmony with the environment and social responsibility.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board Dr. Gobin Ganga said that in 2013 the sector faced many challenges as a result of world gold market, but not withstanding the challenges, the Board has done a tremendous job in being a stabilizing force for the local sector.
He said despite the falling prices, there was still an increase in export revenues.
The gathering of executives in the gold sector are all confident that the industry is poised to surpass its achievement in 2013 and urged all to work to ensure that the sector continues to be a significant contributor to GDP and foreign exchange earnings.
