– President assures miners of a re-elected PPP/C Government
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday assured small and medium-scale gold and diamond miners that a re-elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government would ensure that policies governing the mining industry would continue, thereby stabilising and maintaining the industry.

Mr. Jagdeo said he and the PPP/C’s presidential candidate, Mr. Donald Ramotar, had agreed that the current regime had supported the mining industry and had helped miners to flourish.

He said: “On the main issues, like the environment, we are predictable. You have heard us on taxation, you have heard us on large-scale mining, you have heard us on duty-free concessions.
“That is what I want to tell you here today; that you know who we are and what we stand for, and that’s not going to change radically.”

He stressed his hope that when rumours are spread among miners in the interior that a PPP/C Government would take away their jobs, this would be clarified in the reverse, since the government has a policy that is dedicated to helping small miners, to bring them into organizations that will look after their interests, enhance their rights individually, and make life easier for them.

He made these remarks during an address and a two-hour-long interaction with members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) during their bi-monthly meeting at Regency Suites on Hadfield Street, Georgetown yesterday.

He referred to the mining sector policies of the government that he was sure would continue, while commenting on the issues that were raised last year with respect to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and the environmental requirements with respect to mining.

“The LCDS is a reality for our country, but we have made it clear that it must not affect the development possibilities of our people; and this is why we believe in the agreement we have with Norway, which allows us to do all the mining within that agreement,” the President said.

“The LCDS does not take away a single possibility that you have as miners. You just need to make sure that you have minimal impact on the environment, because the beauty of this country belongs to all of us, and we don’t want to leave huge scars in our environment. Mine in a manner that is conscionable,” he exhorted. “You want this industry to have a green image.”

The president said that small miners can be assured of a place in Guyana as well as the support of the state, because they still have significant capital hurdles to overcome.
“They will be helped so that they can mine in a manner that is safe for them and the environment. The opportunity for mining will not be taken away from them.”
The President said this may require new organizations for small miners, even the setting aside of land for them.

He also added that large miners could be assured that, even while protecting small miners, a re-elected PPP/C Government would allow them to operate without limiting their investments and properties in an unreasonable way.
He observed that the issue of coordination between forestry and mining is very important, but it would not be allowed to act as a disincentive to mining activities.
“There will be every effort to have a balanced approach on this issue,” he said, stressing that mining will continue to be an important contributor to the creation of national wealth.
“I just want to say that what a re-elected PPP/C Government is promising is predictability, stability to the things that you know. You know what you have now will continue, since it is geared to allow the industry to prosper.”
The gathering included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Ms. Karen Livan, and included presentations by President of the GGDMA, Mr. Patrick Harding, and Administrative Co-ordinator Mr. Colin Sparman. Remarks were delivered to a large gathering of miners at the bi-monthly meeting, and President Jagdeo was special guest speaker.