More than 100 non-nationals have been blacklisted as Guyana intensifies enforcement against illegal mining and strengthens systems to ensure gold production is properly declared and enters legitimate channels.
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Wednesday that the heightened enforcement has coincided with a significant increase in gold declarations during 2026, despite tighter controls across the mining districts.
“We have seen a significant increase in gold declarations in 2026,” Bharrat said, noting the improvement has occurred even as enforcement activities have intensified.
The minister said more than 100 non-nationals were blacklisted after concerns about mining activities, including cases involving illegal operations and instances where production was either poorly declared or not declared.
An expanded network of legitimate gold purchasing points supports the government’s enforcement drive.
Guyana now has six Guyana Gold Board (GGB) offices, up three from previously. There are four licensed gold exporters. Also, there are 60 to 70 licensed gold traders.
According to Minister Bharrat, the expanded network is intended to make legitimate gold sales more accessible to miners while strengthening oversight of transactions.
“We have six Gold Board offices across the country. And we have four dealers, as I mentioned,” the minister said.
The regulatory framework has also been strengthened through a centralised traceability system.
Licensed traders use official receipt books. The transactions involving the Gold Board and licensed dealers are recorded. This enables authorities to track the gold from miners through the legitimate purchasing and export chain.
“There is a good traceability system in place. However, you still have instances of people trying to break our laws,” he said.
The minister stressed that enforcement measures extend beyond illegal mining itself, covering the unauthorised sale and movement of gold and illicit activities within mining districts.
He also clarified that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) remains the sole agency responsible for regulating mining and issuing mining permits across the country.
In Amerindian titled areas, miners must first obtain a no objection from the relevant village council before the permitting process can proceed.
Minister Bharrat said the objective is not to prevent legitimate mining, but to ensure that operators comply with Guyana’s laws, obtain the required permits and properly register their equipment.
“It is about ensuring everybody is in compliance with the law,” he said.
The minister said the government will work with compliant miners while it maintains enforcement against illegal operations and gold smuggling. [DPI]
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