WITH gold smuggling being a serious cause for concern, the administration says it will step-up up efforts in 2016 to stamp out the illicit trade as tackling corruption and inefficiency in the sector is of top most priority. Appearing before the Parliamentary Sectorial Committee on Natural Resource yesterday, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman said the problem is being addressed through an inter-agency approach.
Not too recently, an Anti-Gold Smuggling Task Force was established to arrest the problem in the industry, which in recent years has experienced a significant drop in gold prices due to external forces.
The unit comprised of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Gold Board, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Guyana Police Force, the Special Organised Crime Unit and the State Asset Recovery Unity.

Mr Trotman, who has responsibilities for national patrimony, informed the committee chaired by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Odinga Lumumba that the government has been briefed on the gravity of the situation.
Mr Trotman and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan were informed by officials of the US Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the high incidences of gold smuggling.
The US has offered assistance to Guyana to curb the illegality, and Minister Ramjattan has been mandated by the administration to act on the US report.
About three weeks ago, the Bartica office of the Guyana Gold Board was opened, and Mr Trotman is hoping that it will be a boost to the economy of the predominant mining community, as well as put a dent in the gold smuggling trade here.
Aside from gold smuggling, the mining sector has also been dogged by high incidences of accidents, many of which have resulted in deaths.
Soon after the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government assumed office, it was greeted with news of a mining mishap which resulted in the death of 10 persons.
A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) established to investigate the tragedy reported in September that 28 deaths have been recorded in the past 15 months, due to negligence to adhere to safety practices.
The Minister of Governance told the Sectorial Committee yesterday that a number of recommendations to ensure miners’ safety were made in the CoI report, and attention is being paid to their implementation.
SMALL MINERS
He said greater attention is also being given to the strengthening of the mining school, and apart from this, more emphasis is being placed on small miners to address their many complaints.
These include inaccessibility to mining lands, micro-financing as well as the means to get to their lands.
Mining apart, the Department of Environment and Natural Resource, a new department under the Ministry of the Presidency will focus on a number of development, maintenance and beatification projects next year.
Mr Trotman told members of the committee that the National Park, the Botanical Gardens and Joe Vieira Park will be upgraded, but for now, efforts will be concentrated on the National Park, the Botanical Gardens and the Zoo.
The administration is also examining the possibility of converting the Durban Park area into a green park.
In addition, it is working with the World Wildlife Fund in executing a project titled “Guyana Undiscovered”. The project entails the filming and the development of a documentary and other materials for children to make them more aware of the fauna and flora of Guyana.
Activities in protected areas, including the Kaieteur National Park, Shell Beach and the Kanuku Mountain Range are also being monitored.
And the Guyana Protected areas Trust Fund managed by Major General Joe Singh is expected to begin disbursement soon.
Mr Trotman informed the committee that the Wildlife Conservation and Authority Bill which seeks to regulate the movement of wildlife within and outside of Guyana, along with several other pieces of legislations under his department will be tabled in the House.
The others include new regulations for zoos, as there is a proposal for the establishment of a private zoo; regulations to the Land Surveyors Act and the establishment of a National Land Commission to look into vex issues of Amerindian lands, extensions and ancestral lands.
The Department of Environment and Natural resources is mandated to coordinate and harmonise activities of sector agencies to ensure sound management.
The department focuses on policy of activities under its purview. These fall under three areas, namely strategic planning and administration, natural resource management and environment management.

By Tajeram Mohabir