Gold medallion, stamps launched for Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary

In celebrating Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary, commemorative stamps and limited-edition gold medallions have been launched for the occasion.
Through collaboration between the Guyana Post Office Corporation, Natural Resources Ministry and Public Telecommunications Ministry, the commemoratory memorabilia were unveiled on Monday at the Umana Yana, Kingston.
Each medallion is 99.99 per cent pure gold and weighs one Troy ounce. Only 200 pieces have been produced and will go on sale, at over G$200,000 each. During the unveiling ceremony at the Umana Yana, officials did not reveal how much the Guyana Government paid to have these items produced.
However, in addition to the medallions, the entities launched four national commemorative stamps.
According to Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, the theme this year is depicted in the stamps. They are inked with the ceremonial mace, the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Liza Destiny, and Mashramani celebrations among Guyanese.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman spoke about the medallion and its significance to the country’s historic gold mining sector. The symbols used are a stock of gold, a batel, a pick-axe, the map of Guyana, leaves and a patch of land.
According to him, Guyana’s mining sector must transcend onto value-added products to greater impact the economy.
Meanwhile, President David Granger also commented on the contributions from the gold industry by saying, “The gold sector is an economic powerhouse. Gold mining accounts for 9.7 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product. Gold is our largest foreign exchange earner. The commemorative medallion which is being issued is made of gold – pure Guyanese gold — which was mined from the bowels of our country and minted finely to enhance its value.”