THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) welcomes the innovation by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) which drastically reduces waiting time for mining permits, calling the development a “refreshing move towards transparency.”

Executive Director Mr. Tony Shields made the comments yesterday on the eve of yet another lottery by the GGMC, to be held today, for persons wishing to acquire mineral bearing properties in the hinterland.

Shields said that reduction of process time for all applications from 337 to 469 days last year to between 76 and 106 days this year was a significant development not only for miners who have been frustrated by delays but for transparency of the entire process.

“People have complained in the past that they have an application for a permit pending for two three years and no response and someone with connections comes along and gets their permit in less than half the time,” he said.

“We are happy about this innovation because it removes perceptions, whether real or imagined about favouritism and corruption within the system,” he said.

The new system of procession of permits amounts to a 440% reduction in the time usually taken for medium scale permits.

GGMC had last month disclosed that the significant reduction in delivery time came out of a one-year study and then application of the ‘Lean Six Sigma’ method for modern business improvement developed by Motorola Corporation, an American Telecommunications Company based in Illinois, USA .

Shields said that the system was already working to the benefit of the miners and the industry.

Meanwhile, even while opening new areas for mining, the GGMC has also closed some.

A reliable source this week disclosed that mining is being banned in the Rewa and Rupununi Rivers.

The GGMC had also banned mining on a section of the Cuyuni River between the Wenamu and Acarabisi Rivers earlier this year. (Clifford Stanley)