The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is urging miners to declare their gold through authorised channels, as efforts continue to make declaration services more accessible in mining communities in the country.
Policy Planning and Coordination Officer at the GGMC, Omkar Lochan, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that measures have been implemented to bring services closer to miners, including the establishment of additional offices in areas with significant mining and gold declaration activities.
Lochan explained that the authorities continue to identify areas with growing concentrations of mining activity and target those locations for expanded services.
Where it is not feasible to establish a permanent physical office, special arrangements are made for officials to travel into mining communities on designated days to facilitate gold declarations.
He noted that licensed gold dealers and traders operating throughout the various mining districts play an important role in ensuring miners have access to authorised channels for selling and declaring their gold.
“We have in excess of over 30 licensed traders, all in the different mining districts,” Lochan said.
The expanded access is expected to make it easier for miners to declare and sell their gold through legitimate channels, supporting Guyana’s overall gold declaration and foreign exchange earnings.
Gold mining has historically been one of Guyana’s major sources of foreign exchange and remains a critical pillar of the country’s economy. The PPC officer is, therefore, urging miners who may still be reluctant to declare their gold to comply with the law, emphasising that the necessary services are being made increasingly accessible across the mining regions.
“I would urge them to come in. We are making it very easy to do that now,” he stated, while warning that persons who violate the law will face the consequences.
Meanwhile, he reaffirmed the GGMC’s commitment to supporting small and medium-scale miners, whom he described as the backbone of the mining industry.
Lochan noted that the commission will continue to make lands available through lotteries, encouraging miners to remain engaged with the opportunities being created within the sector.