…GGDMA disputes gold smuggling figure

THE Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is in disagreement with government’s revelation that 15,000 ounces of gold are being smuggled out of the country on a weekly basis.At a recent meeting with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, the GGDMA noted that while it agrees that smuggling is taking place, “the figure being touted of 15,000 ounces per week is ridiculous, at least.”

According to a release from the GGDMA, “it is very difficult for us to fathom that 15,000 ounces are being smuggled out of the country on a weekly basis, as this amount equates to over 770,000 ounces per annum. This would be approximately double the average annual yearly declarations over the last few years”, the association contends.

The association hopes that more details about these numbers would be made available, so that clarity can be acquired regarding the origin of the numbers. “Despite this discrepancy, the association remains steadfast in that not even one ounce should be smuggled”, it said.

In January of this year, Minister Trotman was informed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Homeland Security that not only is gold being smuggled out of Guyana, but the precious metal is also being smuggled into this country.

Minister Trotman had revealed that between 50 and 60 per cent of the gold produced in Guyana is smuggled out of the country, and of the more than 15,000 ounces of gold exported from Guyana on a weekly basis, all of it did not originate in Guyana.

Accordingly, the GGDMA acknowledged that gold smuggling is unacceptable, as “it robs the industry of its true revenue position, and deprives Guyanese and the state of its resources.”

The association urged the government to continue tightening all avenues, especially ports of exit and entry and other porous areas on the borders, to rid Guyana of this scourge and the negative publicity that it has brought the industry.

“The GGDMA does not, in any way or fashion, condone smuggling; and has always been reminding miners to sell their gold only to licensed dealers. We applaud the works being done by the government to stamp out smuggling. Smuggling not only affects the revenue collected by the state and, as such, national development; it also has the damning effect of all miners, who are often painted with the same bad brush. The majority of miners are not involved in smuggling, and are focused on self and national development.”

At its meeting with Minister Trotman, the GGDMA was advised that a committee has been convened and tasked with identifying lands for allocation exclusively to small-scale miners in each mining district. It was noted that the committee is expected to conclude its work in a couple of months.