THE launch of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) has brought environmental compliance and sustainability in mining into more serious focus because of the important role the sector plays in the strategy.

Stakeholders of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and members of the mining community met at a workshop yesterday to explore the implications of the LCDS on small and medium scale gold and diamond miners.

Among those present were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Chairman of the GGMC Ron Webster, and Manager of GGMC’s Environmental Division Karen Livan.

Fourteen such workshops are at present being held in the six mining districts in Guyana to sensitise stakeholders about the strategy and the role they are required to play.

The LCDS is an initiative of President Bharrat Jagdeo that aims to expand on economic and social reforms and aid in the fight against climate change.

At the centre of the strategy is Guyana’s 15 million hectares of rainforests which has an economic value of US$580M but if left untouched without affecting national development can contribute to US$40 billion to the global economy each year.

The President believes that such a compensatory mechanism should be included at the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen later this year.

The GGMC has already drafted an environmental compliance enforcement exercise which it intends to launch on July 2.

Some of the key objectives of the campaign will be to determine the impact of turbidity levels of dredge and other mining practices in Amerindian titled and other mining communities.

A system has been established specifically for this exercise whereby each operation will be inspected for compliance with strict environmental regulations, tailings management, turbidity, the use of mercury and monitoring of mining in restricted areas such as roadsides and nature reserves.

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in legal enforcements ranging from citations/official warnings and cease work orders. The campaign will also enforce regulations on sanitation.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who is also the Minister responsible for mining stressed the need on the part of miners to reduce the intolerable environmental impact of mining.

Over the years the sector has seen an influx of miners which has led to concerns about the consequences of bad practices.

“What we do matters and we have to move to some higher levels of operations which reduce environmental and social impacts,” Prime Minister Hinds said.

He referred to sections of the mining law which draw the distinction between the surface and sub-surface right holders, stating that a miner does not proceed to exercise his right to mine unless he/she comes to terms with the surface right holder.

Calls for miners to desist from reckless practices have become stronger around the world because of climate change and the important role which forests play in mitigating this phenomenon.

Prime Minister Hinds said Guyana’s mining sector is being closely monitored internationally and therefore, requires miners to be good advocates of the law.

He reaffirmed his belief however that small and medium-scale miners will perform better but noted that it calls for more knowledge and resources. He also highlighted the obligation of restoration of mined-out areas.

Webster, GGMC’s Chairman, also suggested a few areas which he believes will improve the standards of the sector. These include technical and capital support to miners, and proper prospecting techniques on the part of miners.