The second edition of the Mining Information Toolkit for Guyana communicates a shared vision of  excellence in  mining, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud has said.

“The development of the handbook provides a powerful and credible way for companies, development agencies and other stakeholders in the mining sub-sectors, objectively to assess the sector’s economic and social contribution and to build consensus on ways to enhance it,” he said.
He urged that the handbook “which presents the bigger picture of the way things ought to be”  be used as a guiding instrument by miners and all other stakeholders so that the local sector can become  an example to other mining countries facing similar challenges in managing the extraction  of their  mineral resources.
He hopes too that all Guyanese would read the handbook to understand the sector and hopefully participate in making operators rise to higher levels of performance not only in production and environmentally friendly mining but in socially responsible operations.
The Mining Information Toolkit for Guyana was first launched with support from the Canadian High Commission in 2012.
A revised version was formally handed over to Persaud by Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Nicole Giles  at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) Wednesday last during a programme attended by miners, suppliers, representatives of miners  and other stakeholders in the local sector as well as by representatives of indigenous communities which are or can be impacted by mining activities.
During the programme, Design Consultant Ajay Baksh disclosed that the Guyana Mining Information Toolkit was originally developed from the Canadian Mining  Information Toolkit for Aboriginal Communities.
Dr. Giles said that Canada had decided to design its mining toolkit in 2007 because the Natural Resources Agency had recognised the need to help communities surrounding mines to voice their views and have them taken into consideration.
The document arrived at during widespread consultations was designed in four modules corresponding to the main stages of the mining cycle: mineral exploration, mine development, mine operation and mine closure.
The Canadian Mining Toolkit provided practical examples of best practices in community experiences, positive relationships and partnerships with mining companies and the regulatory process of mining.
It enabled communities to become well informed about the range of economic social and environmental effects and benefits that mining posed; to identify the many opportunities that mining could bring to their communities.
“It became a  How to Guide for best practices in Canada’s Mining Sector; has been a  tool for successful company, community stakeholder and Government engagement; and has since been adopted by emerging and very stable mining countries  such as Peru, Mali, Columbia, Mexico, Ghana, Nigeria and recently Guyana, “ she disclosed.
Baksh said that there will be need for constant upgrading of the 114 page-book to keep the information  current and relevant.
He also invited comments and recommendations to improve the range and quality of its contents.
The revised edition of the Mining Information Toolkit for Guyana can be accessed on the website of the MNR&E.

(By Clifford Stanley)