THE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment’s Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), through its Close Area Committee (CAC), provided an opportunity for small scale miners to access mining properties by participating in a lottery. Following a commitment by Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud to make more mining properties available, the GGMC, through the Close Area Committee began a process of allocating sections of state land within all six mining districts, through a lottery for special mining permits.
The Closed Area Committee looked at specific criteria while identifying these areas which are eventually approved for the lottery blocks. According to a statement yesterday from the ministry, these included accessibility, proximity to a main road or trail and properties which were repossessed by the GGMC because of the former occupants’ failure to pay or because they abandoned the location.
The criterion set by the CAC allows the small scale miners to acquire unhindered state land for mining activities. By law also these criteria are displayed in the national newspapers, flyers and placards area also used to sensitise the public. Recently, the uses of radio and television have also been used to allow further sensitization of the public.
This year was the biggest ever held lottery with each mining district having five hundred (500), one hundred (100) acre plot of land, accounting to a total of three thousand (3000) acres of land within the six mining districts.
The composition of the CAC includes representatives from Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Small Miners Association.
Additionally, the lottery was held under statutory guidelines which are followed and are transparent to any individual who wishes to clarify any of the decisions or recommendations made by the Close Area Committee.
Below is a breakdown of the response to the lottery:
Mining District No. of applicants
Mining District No. 5 NW 172 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 4 Cuyuni 148 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 3 Mazaruni 151 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 1 Berbice 145 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 6 Rupununi 126 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 2 Potaro 155 applicants/winners.
The Closed Area Committee looked at specific criteria while identifying these areas which are eventually approved for the lottery blocks. According to a statement yesterday from the ministry, these included accessibility, proximity to a main road or trail and properties which were repossessed by the GGMC because of the former occupants’ failure to pay or because they abandoned the location.
The criterion set by the CAC allows the small scale miners to acquire unhindered state land for mining activities. By law also these criteria are displayed in the national newspapers, flyers and placards area also used to sensitise the public. Recently, the uses of radio and television have also been used to allow further sensitization of the public.
This year was the biggest ever held lottery with each mining district having five hundred (500), one hundred (100) acre plot of land, accounting to a total of three thousand (3000) acres of land within the six mining districts.
The composition of the CAC includes representatives from Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Small Miners Association.
Additionally, the lottery was held under statutory guidelines which are followed and are transparent to any individual who wishes to clarify any of the decisions or recommendations made by the Close Area Committee.
Below is a breakdown of the response to the lottery:
Mining District No. of applicants
Mining District No. 5 NW 172 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 4 Cuyuni 148 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 3 Mazaruni 151 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 1 Berbice 145 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 6 Rupununi 126 applicants/winners.
Mining District No. 2 Potaro 155 applicants/winners.
