GGMC needs leadership and a Commissioner to be appointed – Tony Shields

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguayan.com] – Former Executive Director of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Edward ‘Tony’ Shields has reiterated the call for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to appoint a substantive head as soon as possible.

The GGMC has been without a Commissioner since October 2012 following the retirement of Karen Livan, who served the Commission for over 37 years. She was appointed Commissioner on January 16, 2012.

According to Shields, the GGMC needs leadership and believes the absence of a substantive head is the reason for the ‘push around’ currently experienced when doing business there.

The appointment of a Commissioner for the GGMC was among several other requests of miners during a meeting with President Donald Ramotar and other Senior Government Officials on Monday (January 6).

In 2013 the GGDMA had called for Rickford Vieira, who is currently the acting Commissioner to be appointed as the substantive head of the body, but to no avail.

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud had said then that the GGMC will soon see a change in its organizational pattern and that the new commissioner will be appointed soon.