Press Release – Restructuring of GFC, GGMC
Press Release The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) takes note of a letter contained in the Kaieteur News edition for 2019.11.7, which is titled: “Restructuring of GGMC untimely, belated action shows lack of strategic vision”. Given its mandate to explore, develop and sustain the natural resources of our country, the Ministry has continuously taken action to review and update policies and the functioning where necessary, to ensure the sustainable exploration and development of the nation’s resources. Particularly, the MNR has supported and worked along with the agencies within its purview, namely the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), which function as regulators within the sector. The Ministry and by extension, the Government of Guyana, in efforts to continue the advancement of the country and the natural resources sector’s management, has decided to move forward with acquiring recommendations on the [...]
Minister’s Remarks at The National Inception Workshop for the Development of the National Action Plan (NAP) for the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
The National Inception Workshop for the Development of the National Action Plan (NAP) for the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) Sector in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2019 Time: 09:00 hours Venue: Herdmanston Lodge, 65 Peter Rose Street, Queenstown Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Public Health, Ms. Jewel Batchasingh, Director (ag) of the Basel Convention Regional Centre for Training and Technology for the Caribbean, Ms. Malgorzata Stylo, Associate Programme Management Officer, United Nations, Environment Programme, Deputy Registrar of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board, Ms Diane McDonald, Deputy Commissioner, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Water Inc. and Conservation International – Guyana. Ms Aiesha Williams, Country Manager, World Wildlife Fund – Guyana, heads of the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO), Guyana Gold and Diamonds Miner Association (GGDMA) and the National Mining Syndicate [...]
Press Release – Ministry of Natural Resources grants final amnesty for Miners
Press Release Ministry of Natural Resources grants final amnesty for Miners Following repeated requests for interventions by the Minister of Natural Resources for relief to miners, the Ministry of Natural Resources has directed the GGMC to grant a final amnesty for miners who are in arrears in terms of payment of rental for medium scale properties. The amnesty process will be facilitated through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. The granted grace period commences on October 1, 2019 and ends on December 31, 2019, a total of ninety-two (92) days. This will be given to all medium scale property holders who are in arrears and whose properties have not been published as cancelled in the Official Gazette. With the period given, the penalty accrued on such arrears will attract a waiver of fifty percent (50%). It is important to note that the grace period will not be extended and all [...]
Press Release – Minister Raphael Trotman and Staff express sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of Deon Stoll
Press Release Minister Raphael Trotman and Staff express sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of Deon Stoll The Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Raphael Trotman and staff of the Ministry express condolences to the relatives and friends of Mr. Deon Stoll, a miner who was killed during an attack by gunmen. Mr. Stoll was a member of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association. He was also the father of two. The Ministry is thankful for the contributions of Mr. Stoll to the sector. It is our hope that justice be served. May the soul of Deon Stoll rest in peace and may his relatives and friends find the strength needed to overcome this trying time.
Press Release – MNR Response to article in Kaieteur News “GFC monitoring system has been severely compromised” dated 4th October, 2019 by M. Fraser.
Press Release MNR Response to article in Kaieteur News “GFC monitoring system has been severely compromised” dated 4th October, 2019 by M. Fraser. The letter written by M. Fraser is downright scandalous and devoid of the facts. The missive by M. Fraser published in the October 4, 2019 edition of Kaieteur News captioned “GFC monitoring system has been severely compromised” is malicious and tantamount to mendacities. The first sentence of the article suggests that two prominent stakeholders voiced their concerns, but in reality, the authors are unknown to the forestry sector. The name “John Williams” was deliberately used as an author of one of the articles to misrepresent a prominent forestry stakeholder “John Willems”.The articles contain several scandalous statements but lack any factual evidence to perpetuate an investigation. The author of these articles are encouraged to present the facts about corruption to the Board of Directors for further investigation. The [...]
Press Release – Ministry of Natural Resources and agencies participate in National Toshaos Conference 2019!
Press Release Ministry of Natural Resources and agencies participate in National Toshaos Conference 2019! Representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and its Agencies; Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Guyana Gold Board on October 9, 2019 participated in the National Toshaos Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. The participation served as a means to present on Government initiatives, interact with, and answer questions and address matters of concern of the village representatives and Toshaos. Ministry representatives of the Forest Partnership Facility Project Clayton Hall, Project Coordinator, and Michelle Astwood, Project Assistant, made initial presentations on the work the project had done so far. The presentation focused on the immense progress that the Inter-American Development Bank funded project which aims at sustainable forest management has made. Particularly, the presentation highlighted the partnership with Indigenous Peoples in fulfilling the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) initiative. [...]
Press Release – Minister Raphael Trotman and Staff express sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of Ryan Taylor
Press Release Minister Raphael Trotman and Staff express sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of Ryan Taylor The Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Raphael Trotman and staff of the Ministry offer sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of Ryan Taylor, a young miner who this morning died in a mining pit which collapsed at Troy Resources’ Karouni, Region Seven operations. Reports reaching the Ministry indicate that Taylor, of Albert Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, was among miners working on the construction of a "bench" in a mining pit, when there was a slippage, which allegedly led to Mr. Taylor falling and being covered. The Minister has since instructed the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission to begin making the necessary preparations for the thorough investigation of the matter. A report is to be compiled and submitted upon completion. In the interim, all work in the area of construction has been ordered [...]
Press Release – Minister Trotman meets with Terna Impex LLP delegation
Press Release Minister Trotman meets with Terna Impex LLP delegation The Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Raphael Trotman on Wednesday 2nd October held a meeting with a delegation of businessmen from India who are interested in mining, energy and the agricultural sectors. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Natural Resources. Accompanying the Minister were senior staff of the Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. High Commissioner of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in India HE Dr. David Goldwin Pollard facilitated the visit of the delegation who were representatives of Terna Impex LLP, an Indian machinery and equipment company. The Company director, Mr. Balasaheb Kadam and team members comprised the remainder of the delegation. The discussions were centred on the company’s proposal to invest in the mining sector through a cooperative approach. This specifically relates to mining with small scale Guyanese miners and land owners. The [...]
Press Release – Minister Trotman donates boat and engine to Buxtonians
Press Release Minister Trotman donates boat and engine to Buxtonians The Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Raphael Trotman, in fulfilling a commitment to Buxton village has made a donation of a boat and engine for usage by the farmers in the community. The donation was made on September 26th, 2019 at the Buxton Tipperary Hall to a group of residents, now formed into a committee, which will ensure that the boat is cared for and used by the community. In addressing the residents Minister Trotman noted that the boat, and engine, which was a partnered donation between the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry, is to assist the farmers with transporting their produce in and out of the backdam. The Minister further noted that the boat was requested during an outreach to the area and the two agencies worked towards procuring one in the soonest timeframe. [...]
Press Release – MNR pleased with continuing progress made between the Government of Guyana and Norway
Press Release MNR pleased with continuing progress made between the Government of Guyana and Norway -Norway’s release of $US50, remainder of the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund pledge The Ministry of Natural Resources is pleased to note the Kingdom of Norway’s agreement to disburse all final payments totaling approximately US$50 million, equivalent to the remainder of the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund pledge made in 2009. The agreement was met on the margins of the United National Climate Summit in New York between Minister of State Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams and Norway’s Minister for Climate and Environment, Mr. Ola Elvestuen on Monday. Both Ministers agreed that in accordance with the bilateral agreement between the two countries, Guyana has met its commitments and therefore Norway would release the final payments. Minister Elvestuen emphasized that Norway is most impressed with Guyana’s continued low deforestation rates over the many years, and also with the substantive progress [...]
Press Release – Ministry of Natural Resources updates on action on dragga at Parabara Village
Acknowledging the concerns of the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) regarding the presence of a ‘dragga’ at the Parabara Village in South Rupununi, the Ministry wishes to offer an update on the steps made so far for the structure’s removal. Upon immediate awareness of the structure’s presence, an investigation was launched by the Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission which saw the issuing of an Order to Remove in June, 2019. A follow up visit was made in late August. During the visit Mining Engineer Donnell Perry and Mines Officer Nial Gravesande observed one river dredge parked on the left side of the Kuyuwini River. There were no signs of disturbance of the river banks or turbid water and the dredge showed no signs of being worked recently. On the part of the GGMC and the Ministry, there is evidence from pictures of the dredge and the observance [...]
Terms of Reference – Development of National National Action Plan for Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Click the images below to view the Terms of Reference - Development of National National Action Plan for Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana