THE Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has reiterated its commitment toward ensuring the safety and protection of the staff of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) who were recently exposed to mercury.

The ministry’s comments are in response to what it described as a “disappointing” Stabroek News editorial that seemed to suggest a lax attitude on the part of the government. The ministry said that following the recent discovery of mercury affected staffers, it has not been taken the situation lightly. “This Administration, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, acted immediately to determine the health status of the staff of GGMC and GGB and continues to look at ways to ensure a safe environment,” the release insisted.

It said that while affected staff members are being monitored and continue to receive treatment, further testing to ensure the safety of the environment will be done by an overseas company. The ministry related that Kaizen Environmental Services (Guyana) Ltd. was commissioned to conduct air quality tests, monitoring of the GGB laboratory, the compound and the environment. Testing of 10 locations at the GGMC by Kaizen, found that mercury levels at all 10 locations were within the United States Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s eight-hour permissible exposure limit.

The release continued that a local company, Activation Laboratory, was also consulted to assist with monitoring. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been invited in to monitor the situation and is statutorily authorised to take any action deemed warranted.
The NRM noted therefore, that suggestions by the newspaper of political indifference on the part of this administration as contained in their Editorial of April 17, 2018: “Mercury emissions at the Guyana Gold Board”, are “misplaced and disappointing.” The MNR said given the nature of the operations, employees may be exposed to various risk and every effort is made to minimise and guard against these.

“These are not the actions of an indifferent Administration, but rather, the actions of a Government committed to the safety and well-being of its people,” the statement declared.
The NRM and GGMC had related that about 130 staff members were affected by mercury contamination. GGMC‘s Commissioner Newell Dennison had said that almost 200 persons were sent for mercury contamination tests when it was realised that the number of affected staffers were increasing. These persons were tested and continues to be treated, while some were given as much a month off to recuperate.

The NRM has reminded that the Guyana Gold Board, which is housed in the GGMC compound, does not use mercury in its operations but that gold brought to the GGB for sale and processing may contain mercury which is emitted during smelting.

The NRM has called on stakeholders to support the efforts of the government and their agencies for the eradication of mercury as per the Minimata Convention on Mercury.