CABINET has granted its approval for the appointment of a new board of directors for the Guyana Gold Board, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman has indicated.

However, its members will be revealed within the next few days. It is understood that the board will serve for a period of one year starting November 1, 2015. Governor of the Bank of Guyana Dr. Gobind Ganga is currently the Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board.

The current board has been accused by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) of contributing to some of the illicit activities plaguing the mining sector.
It was explained that since the closure of the Bartica, Port Kaituma and Charity Gold Board offices, miners have been forced to sell their gold elsewhere. It was pointed out by the association that the establishment of the Bartica Gold Board office in 2013 saw approximately 40% of the gold being sold there.

In addition to the Guyana Gold Board, the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment has been given the greenlight for the appointment of the Closed Area Committee (CAC) of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). This committee will also function for a period of one year, effective November 1, 2015. The CAC reviews land closed for mining and decides on the re-opening and allocation to applicants by fair and transparent means, such as lotteries and auctions.