The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission [GGMC] today celebrated its 34 anniversary.
In his message on the observance of the event, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud stated that he has mandated the Commission to increase its efforts to tackle social issues that arise with the expanding mining development, including trafficking in persons, prostitution and narcotics use.
According to Minister Persaud, through the coordination of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the GGMC is working along with other sector agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and Guyana Forestry Commission and the respective law enforcement agencies; to enhance compliance and monitoring of all related mining and environmental regulations.
“As a job enabling sector, the Mining Industry directly employed approximately 16,500 persons in 2012. If indirect and induced jobs are added in, a total of approximately 20,000 persons were employed in the mining and quarrying industry. From the very inception of mining in Guyana in the 1880s, the sector has been highly regulated and formalized. Over the 125 years since, the various governments differed in their motives for intervening in the industry, but at no time was the activity ignored or allowed to run unfettered,” Minister Persaud said.
Additionally, Commissioner [ag] of the GGMC, Rickford Vieira in his message stated that from the very inception of mining in Guyana in the 1880s, the sector has been highly regulated and formalized.
“Over the 125 years since, the various governments differed in their motives for intervening in the industry, but at no time was the activity ignored or allowed to run unfettered. As a case in point, it has been mandatory, since the country’s first mining law in 1880, for all those involved in gold mining to be licensed or registered.”
