‘Temporary hold’ on processing new river mining claims

The Guyana government has denied placing a ban on river mining even as gold and diamond miners Tuesday approved a vote of no-confidence in Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Robert Persaud for his management of the mining sector.
“While we will not compromise the integrity of rivers and creeks, harm residents who depend on their waterways for drinking water and livelihood and damage marine life through mining pollution, we are committed to working with all stakeholders on ensuring the best river mining practices,” the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment said in a statement Tuesday night.
Persaud added that the authorities have “not stopped nor intend to stop river mining.”
“All what has happened is that there will be no processing of new application for river mining claims for one month to allow a review of river mining practices by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) as agreed to by stakeholders,” Persaud said.
But the GGDMA said it was also seeking funds for a mobilisation campaign against the decision by authorities to cease processing new river claims.
GGDMA president Patrick Harding said that at a meeting earlier with Persaud an agreement was reached to establish a nine-member committee to review the situation.
In the statement, the government acknowledged that a quarterly meeting had been held with various stakeholders including the GGDMA at which they reviewed joint interventions as well as the process of regulating the mining sector.
“Among the issues discussed were environmental concerns relating to river mining, waste management at camp sites, security in mining districts, availability of mining lands and miners being displaced by extending village boundaries, etc.
In addition, the meeting agreed of the composition of a technical joint working group that included the GGDMA, EPA and the GGMC to carry out a review in one month of environmental issues and concerns pertaining river and tributary mining,” the release stated.
The statement said that there was also agreement on the issue of river mining where the ministry and the GGMC made it clear that there has been no decision to stop river and tributary mining, but rather a temporary hold on accepting new river and tributary claims, until all stakeholders would have met and review acceptable guidelines.
Last week, the government announced it had stopped granting new river mining claims.
“As a consequence of the reports, and a review of the far-reaching negative impacts of river mining, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, through the GGMC  took the position of not accepting any new applications for river claims until further notice and consultation, especially, with Amerindians and riverine communities,” the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment said in an earlier statement.
The decision followed overwhelming reports to the GGMC by a wide cross-section of stakeholders about “damage caused by increasingly irresponsible mining in Guyana’s rivers and tributaries.