Described as the “ultimate betrayal by the APNU+AFC government”, miners have been warned by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) of government’s plan to rescind all concessions that were granted.

A press statement from the association on Thursday noted that, “The GGDMA has received highly credible information that the current government will be rescinding ALL the concession granted to miners. The Association notes that the Ministry of Finance is expected to make this announcement in his budget speech.”

The GGDMA is alleging that the measures include the removal of all VAT waivers, all concessions for fuel and lubricants, all concessions for motor vehicles, all concessions on spares and parts, all concessions on tools and equipment and the non- renewal of the fuel import licenses.

“This is the ultimate betrayal of the miners by the APNU+AFC government and will only serve to make the already difficult industry harder, if not impossible. The Association is calling on the government to restore the status quo and return ALL the concession granted to Miners under the PPP/C administration.”

It is the view of the GGDMA that the current government has given no additional help to the industry.

“They have provided no new concrete concessions and to date they have not put in one single road or other infrastructural work that directly benefits the industry.

“The GGDMA notes that the Finance Minister seems to be in direct defiance of the promises made by His Excellency President David Granger to grant the industry several concessions and to which the industry initially received letters of commitments, but NO action. It appears now that the finance Minister has the power of veto over the President’s commitments and the Government is taking a deliberate anti-mining stance.”

According to the GGDMA, the gold industry is set to surpass the 600,000 ounces mark this year and the figure is the direct effort of the small and medium scale miners.

“We have produced this much gold WITHOUT the concessions or tax breaks the foreign companies enjoy. Given the same concessions as the foreign companies we can produce more than 600,000 ounces by ourselves.”

According to the association, “This proposed backward step, to remove all waivers and concessions, will see a significant decline in the production targets next year and many more miners on the breadline. The industry is already suffering and this betrayal is going to kill mining in Guyana. Miners are prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure that the industry survives. We will stand together.”

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman during a recent meeting with miners from Marudi, Region Nine had noted that there must be order in the mining sector, contending that “Nobody is going to have their own way. We will have order.”