[www.inewsguyana.com] – Following the reconvening of the Closed Area Committee, an auction was held today and expected to continue tomorrow for medium scale mining properties.
The auction was made possible following discussions with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association and the mining sector regulatory agency, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. This is the first auction since 2009.
Subject Minister, Robert Persaud had mandated the Closed Area Committee to identify mining properties for lottery/auction hereby making more mining properties available to miners and new entrants to the mining sector.
The committee is broad based and its work is guided by statutes. The transparency and openness of the award of blocks for the auction was witnessed by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, amongst other stakeholders.
Also present was the Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Mr. Clinton Williams and Mr. Patrick Harding, President, GGDMA.
According to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission approximately one thousand mining blocks went to auction, which commenced today, Monday, August 11, 2014 at the Guyana Girl Guides Association building, Upper Brickdam, Georgetown.
Due to the large attendance by miners, new entrants to the sector and other interested person; the Commission anticipates that there will be a full allocation of the blocks listed for auctions.
Additionally, due to the overwhelming response to the auction, it has been extended to accommodate all miners and other interested persons.
Meanwhile, in an effort to make more mining properties available to small miners and new entrants, a lottery of medium scale mining parcels in each of the six Mining Districts will be held on Monday, August 18th, 2014 at 10:00hrs Interested persons may consult the relevant maps which are on display at the GGMC Head Office and Mining Stations to ascertain their area and zone of interest.
Persons can acquire copies of the lottery maps at the cost of $3,000 per sheet. The closing date for receipt of applications is August 14th, 2014.
