MINING Week, a significant event observed annually in Guyana will kick-off from today. The activity, organised by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), will be celebrated under the theme ‘Improving Methods, Satisfying Stakeholders and Securing Prosperity for the Sector’ and will take into account the substantial contribution of mining to Guyana as well as the technical and scientific discussion that must occur to improve mining and its associated activities in the country. 

As part of the mining week activities, a National Mining and Quarrying Conference, a Mining Discussion forum and Exhibition at the Guyana Girl Guides Pavilion will be held from August 24 to 26.

The 8th National Mining and Quarrying Conference and the Mining Discussion Forum will run currently on August 24 to 26 at the Pegasus Hotel from 8:00 h to 16:00 h. The two events will place special emphasis on technical presentations and issues related to small and medium-scale mining in Guyana and will garner inputs and feedback on topical issues related to the sector.

Mining Exhibition at the Guyana Girl Guides Pavilion will commence on August 24 to 28 from 15:00 h to 19:00 h and will showcase mining equipment, machine for the mining sector while providing information fact sheets for miners and the general public. Prizes can also be won at the exhibition.

Commissioner (Acting) of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, William Woolford said the thrust of the organisation’s effort is to help enhance miners’ exploration and mineral processing.

“We want to match the efforts they have put to acquire excavating with the same emphasis on processing so we want them to target 80% to the recovery of gold and diamond. We think they are getting 25-30 percent over most of the range of sizes for the gold that they are working,” he said.

Woolford expressed gratitude to those sponsors including Mekdeci Mining Company and Matalica commodities Corporation and others who have provided support for the event.

Over 75 persons from different parts of the world including Suriname, Brazil and further afield have registered for the conference. These individuals will be making presentations.

He further urged that local miners including porkknockers should take up the opportunity and join the conference and partake in the mining exhibition and activities that really celebrate their efforts and work.

Manager Petroleum Division, Newell Dennison said the cycle of events will culminate with Porkknocker’s day which will be celebrated on August 29 at the Bartica Pavilion, Bartica from 9:00 h.

The highlights for the event are cooking competition for Bahirs (mining cooks), Batelling competition, Tacouba Crossing Race for Miners, Jigging competition and Warishi Race for miners, among others.

Dennison explained that during the activity, a variety of topics will be highlighted at the conference.

He said GGMC has explored various activities to encourage the mining community particularly small and medium scale miners to focus on issues that are principally mining.

Dennison stated that workshops and sessions will be conducted by distinguished guests from Western Australia and South Africa and Guyana.

Several tours will also be conducted to Small Scale gold mining establishments at St. Elizabeth Mahdia, Potaro and the Russian Aluminum Company (RUSAL) Bauxite mining, Aroaima and Kwakwani, Berbice River, Linden Quarries, Mazaruni River and BOSAI Bauxite mining and processing, Linden.

He added that while the activities will culminate with the celebration of Porkknocker’s day, education and new thinking of traditional porkknocking will also be inculcated to those who are engaging in mining at that level.