Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat is urging indigenous communities engaged in gold mining to ensure the resources are sold to only legitimate buyers, warning that to do otherwise is illegal.
“Ensure your production is sold to a legitimate buyer, it is your responsibility as a leader and as a Guyanese to ensure that your production is sold to a legitimate buyer,” the minister told those gathered at the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference.
“…because there are accusations and many allegations that gold is not being sold to legitimate buyers and maybe it is crossing our borders illegally, we don’t want that,” he added.
The Natural Resources Minister emphasised that “we want our resources to remain in our country”
He also reminded the indigenous leaders that it is illegal to sell gold to illegitimate buyers.
“You’re robbing your country of resources, you’re robbing yourself and your own community of resources when you do that,” the minister explained, reminding that the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has established offices outside of Georgetown in areas such as Bartica, Mahdia, Port Kaituma and Marudi.
Earlier this year, Minister Bharrat had announced that government’s crackdown on gold smuggling will intensify.
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had also noted that several intelligence operations are ongoing to curb this practice.
Last year, gold brought in earnings to the tune of US$989 million – an increase of over US$180 million.
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