“DO not leave abscesses on our landscape,” was the plea of President David Granger yesterday at the Aurora Gold Mines first ‘gold pour’ ceremony in the Cuyuni. The President called on those in the mining sector to be more environmentally conscious.
“The days of the free-for-all are over and we need to be more environmentally conscious if we are to hand this country over to our children and grandchildren in the condition that we found it when we took it over from our parents and grandparents,” he said.
Granger said it is government’s intention to ensure that there is mandatory land reclamation and reforestation by miners, noting that the environment is not the sole responsibility of the government.
“Traditional gold mining practices which expose our hinterland residents to environmental degradation and destruction must be discontinued. There must be a mandatory process of land reclamation and reforestation, not optional…mandatory.”
President Granger stressed that “uncontrolled and indiscriminate mining are the leading causes of environmental degradation… sometimes large areas are cleared for mining but after the mining ceases you just have holes in the ground to show for posterity.”
He stressed that the industry must be conscious of the impact mining has on communities and settlements, making reference to the many health issues that result from mining such as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and the polluting of water used by communities to cook, wash and clean.
“River banks are destroyed by reckless, destructive mining practices; many rivers once looking like tea are now looking like chocolate. The waterways are silted, polluted; high levels of turbidity owing to the discharge of dangerous mining effluent,” he said.
CORRUPTION
President Granger said government has a zero-tolerance on corruption in the mining industry. He said several systems and controls will be introduced at the levels of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold Board to eradicate white collar crimes.
“Our government is committed to the task of ensuring that no one pays bribes for any services in this sector and no public official will escape the long arm of the law; we need honest mines officers, not bribe-able mines officers, who will end the practices of graft,” he said.
Corrupt individuals, the President said, will be prosecuted. “Accusations of graft must become a thing of the past and it must put mining on a footing that is on par with any international mining enterprise.”
“Gold mining in Guyana does indeed face tremendous challenges but these challenges are sometimes made by persons in the industry themselves; persons who try to deprive the state of royalties and smuggle gold out of our country and against the law,” Granger said, making reference to the smuggling of 476 pounds of gold valued at approximately US$11 million to Curacao in 2012 and the smuggling of 30 pounds of gold at Moleson Creek, Corentyne in 2008.
“Some of these crimes are as a result of corruption; the consequence of incompetence or a combination of both,” the President stated.
IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE, SECURITY
Dubbing the current hinterland infrastructure the “worst”, President Granger stressed the need for much “improved infrastructural developments.”
“We need to improve the infrastructure, facilitate the construction of the aerodromes, bridges and roads and stellings, these improvements will encourage greater economic activity,” he noted.
The President stressed that infrastructure is a benefit and not a liability. “Entrepreneurs will follow the roads and bridges, greater investment…”
One of the biggest threats to investment, the President stressed, is the lack of security, adding that government intends to “intensify efforts” in this regard. “There must be better security in the mining industry; we are at present developing a plan to better security,” he said.
“Gold mining is also becoming increasingly dangerous; miners are being killed. Criminal elements are moving into these areas, murdering and robbing miners,” Granger observed.
The lives of those who work in the mining industry are way more valuable than the minerals they search for, the President said. “We therefore have to become more concerned about safety standards and the enforcement of those standards. That is the task of the Minister of Governance.”
As such, the President believes that the national economy would be significantly enhanced and the livelihood of residents in the hinterland and miners would be enriched if placed on safer administration and surer economic bases.
“This will be dealt with on a more comprehensive and collaborative approach rather than confrontational approach… which you have been accustomed to between the State and the industry. The gold mining sector is an important pillar of our national economy; it continues to contribute to economic growth.”
Gold production must be placed on a “much safer footing, the President stressed. “We need to repair the rotten regional and local government systems which have been an impediment to stability,” Granger said. He hopes that with Local Government elections fast approaching the gold sector can thrive.
TECHNOLOGY
The President also called for an improvement in the technology used to recover minerals. “We want a modern, safe, technologically advanced gold mining sector; we want gold to be linked with other sectors of the economy.”
Guyana he said must “make a leap forward, upward and outward into the international community. We need new technology in all stages of mining… and must penetrate the small and medium and not just the large.”
Meanwhile, Founder and Executive Chairman of Guyana Gold Fields, Patrick Sheridan dubbed the Aurora Gold Mines as “Guyana’s next big gold producer”. He said the company employs hundreds of locals who have good jobs, salaries and great benefits.
Country Manager Violet Smith in brief remarks expressed gratitude to former Prime Minster Samuel Hinds and Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn for their commitment and assistance over the years. “This is the first time in 19 years we finally poured a bar of gold,” she remarked. Smith noted that the company spent some US$411M in capital investment over the years.
Aurora Gold Mines, located in the Cuyuni Mazaruni District, is expected to produce approximately 15,000 ounces of gold per month over a 35-year period. The company started exploration in 1996 and began construction in 2013, while operations commenced in 2015.

 “Traditional gold mining practices which expose our hinterland residents to environmental degradation and destruction must be discontinued. There must be a mandatory process of land reclamation and reforestation not optional…mandatory” – President Granger

By Ariana Gordon