By Kurt Campbell
![Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Robert Persaud. [iNews' Photo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Robert-Persaud.jpg)
The Minister while addressing the media on Monday on the multimillion dollar Karouni ‘Gold’ Project for which ground work has begun, said the sales by existing small and medium scale miners to the Guyana Gold Board has reduced.
In this regard, Persaud urged President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Patrick Harding to ensure that the record declaration which was achieved last year is maintained.
Persaud said from assessment, production has not decreased and questioned therefore the reduction in declaration.
Between January to April, 2014 a total of 136, 244 ounces of gold were declared. Meanwhile, for the same period in 2013 some 151, 758 ounces were declared.
As such, January – April 2014 is 10.22 % below when compared to last year. In 2013 local miners broke the record on gold production, with a gold declaration of 481,100 ounces.
Government has since registered its optimism that even in the face of challenges that persist in the mining industry with will exceed its production record of previous years.
