“We can’t operate like the Wild West” – Min Bharrat

…as Govt steps up crackdown on illegal mining, gold smuggling

The Government is intensifying its crackdown on illegal mining and gold smuggling, while strengthening gold traceability and enforcement measures to ensure miners sell their gold only to legitimate buyers and comply with established mining regulations as the mining sector expands.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat made the comment during a recent social media interview, noting that the Government has seen an increase in the number of Guyanese entering the mining sector, including individuals who had never previously engaged in mining and those who had left the industry. “A lot of people have been getting into mining. People have never been in mining before.

People who have left mining, they’re going to get in mainly because of the price and all that. What we said to miners is that you must be compliant.” He posited that anywhere in the world, there are laws, regulations, rules and conditions that must be followed.

He said the Natural Resources Ministry encourages mining and is willing to work with miners, whether they operate on a small, medium or large scale, or within communities, but stressed that they must comply with the laws of Guyana. The increase has been attributed, in part, to the prevailing price of minerals. However, Bharrat reminded miners that they must remain compliant with the relevant laws and regulations governing mining activities.

Wild West

“We can’t operate like the Wild West and say that, oh, ‘the Government is cracking, clamping down on the mining and the Government is putting pressure on us’… It’s not about putting pressure. It is about ensuring everybody is in compliance with the law. And I don’t see how difficult it is to comply with the law. If you’re a Guyanese, you should comply with the law. If you’re a foreigner and you come to our country, you have to follow our laws. Because we can’t go to another country and do anything illegal.”

He added, by drawing other scenarios Guyanese tend to adhere to in other parts of the world. “We can’t go to another country and engage in illegal mining or smuggling gold. And likewise, no one should be allowed to come to our country and engage in illegal mining.” Meanwhile, as part of efforts to regularise mining activities and ensure compliance with the law, the Government has been conducting a campaign targeting mining districts and communities.

“So, we have been on a serious campaign to ensure that activities in the mining district or communities are regularised and are in compliance with the law. The production or the produce, the gold produced are sold to a legitimate buyer and there are three categories of legitimate buyers when I say that.”

Only recently, two water dredges and a quantity of gold were seized following the discovery and dismantling of yet another illegal mining operation, this time along the Puruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

During the exercise, the Ministry related that the team focused on mining activities within the river’s buffer zone. Following the discovery of the illegal operation, three persons were arrested and taken to the Puruni Landing outpost, where they were interrogated.

Earlier this month, several persons, including Venezuelan nationals, were detained following the discovery of an illegal mining operation in the Potaro mining district, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), as authorities continued their crackdown on illegal mining.

It was reported that on September 10, several Venezuelans and other non-nationals were arrested at the illegal mining operation, resulting in the seizure of several pieces of mining equipment and a quantity of gold.