THE Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) intends to ensure that hinterland communities benefit directly from their proximity to large- scale gold and diamond mining activities.

Speaking with respect to Foreign Direct Investors (FDIs) in the mining industry, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GGMC, Clinton Williams said that it was the view that mining must improve the quality of life of surrounding communities.
He said: “Let me say this – that for those of you who are FDIs. In the past you have come up with strategies that talked about corporate social responsibility, etc! etc! But in a number of cases this was not defined at all. So you putting up a couple of hospital beds or school furniture or something here and there and that was then sufficient. But things are going to be different pretty soon.”
He stressed that those FDIs talking to the GGMC and the Government now about mineral agreements will recognize that the agency is taking a different course in terms of social responsibility of mining.
He said: “Mining by its very nature is a high-impact economic activity. The nature of the business means that the establishment of a mining operation is going to affect local communities, for better or for worse. We are asking for definitive quantitative deliverables to neighboring communities as part of that mineral agreement.”
“We are tweaking large scale projects to support any potential dysfunction that will happen during the mining period and even after.”
Mining operators will be required to not only generate community benefits in the short term, but to convert finite mineral resources into a positive and sustainable legacy for the host communities that will continue after the life of the mine.
Williams said that this means that the GGMC and Government want to see the communities continue after the mining companies have left with sustainable industries whether it is agriculture or forestry or tourism as value-added for their proximity to these operations .
He reiterated: “We now insisting; we now tweaking these mineral agreements to insist that there are specific deliverables, built into the agreements; that can be quantified which will benefit the communities during the mining and thereafter.”
He said that this would be part of the new strategy of shared value as it relates to the mining sector and how it contributes to creating value for neighbouring communities.
He said to the FDIs: “You will hear from us very soon.”

(By Clifford Stanley)