MINISTER of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, during a visit  to Region 7(Cuyuni-Mazaruni) over the weekend,  met and engaged the staff of the Guyana Gold Board at Bartica and the mining officers and rangers at the Guyana Geology Mines and Commission’s (GGMC’s) substation and check point at Itaballi, Mazaruni.
The ministry has responsibility for forestry, mining, environmental management, wildlife, protected areas, land-use planning and coordination, and climate change. 
Minister Persaud has begun meeting with natural resources stakeholders to ensure a ministry that is responsive to the challenges and opportunities of the different sub–sectors under its purview.
The visit allowed the minister to assess the procedure of action of the two offices and to be enlightened on the areas that need to be dealt with to better effect their functions.
The personnel were also made aware of the government’s vision for the modernisation and complete development of the natural resources sector, commencing with upgrading and capacity-building at the level of their agencies. 
The workers were told that better office facilities will be constructed at Bartica for the staff of the GGMC and the Guyana Gold Board, and the ministry will be boosting its monitoring staff by 100 at the end of this year, and establishing 12 stations across the mining districts.