Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on Friday urged officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to set targets that would require them to exhort themselves in order to achieve successes. He was at the time speaking at the Commission’s 31st anniversary celebration.

The Prime Minister said that over the years, mining has been greatly improved in terms of more advanced equipment, as well as the use of technology, however, he said that these developments have led to more challenges in the industry.

He said that the work of the Commission is extremely important to the country’s development and as such he, in his capacity as Minister responsible for mining, has always lobbied for the workers to get attractive salaries.

However, he said that there are limitations as Government has to prioritise its resources to ensure that areas such as health, education and security also receive attention.

The Prime Minister pointed out people must make a greater contribution. This he said, is a necessary pre-requirement for the nation’s advancement.

Commissioner (ag) of the GGMC, William Woolford, in his remarks said that the Commission since its very early years of operation, has committed to strive for excellence.

Woolford urged the staff of the Commission to try to work together even when opinions may differ.

He added that training at the internal and section levels, as well as areas of accounts, human resources development, and geology and mining, are of extreme importance to the work of the Commission and said that as an organisation, there is need for more officers to be trained at a higher level.
“We try to focus on our human resources as strongly as possible,” Woolford said.

Chairman of the GGMC’s Board of Directors, Ronald Webster posited that although certain aspects of the Commission’s operations may take a while to materialise officers need to find “the necessary scenarios in order to make things happen.”

At the ceremony, awards were also presented to staff members for their years of service as well as for a number of indoor sporting competitions in which they participated. 

Additionally, bursary awards were presented to the children of eight staff members who were successful in the recent National Grade Six Assessment Examination.

The GGMC was established in 1979 from the Department of Geological Surveys and Mines which itself was the successor to the Geological Survey of British Guiana.

Currently the Commission is divided into five divisions. These are: Geological Services, Mines, Environment, Petroleum, and Land Management.