THE Guyana Gold Board has been moved from the compound of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Upper Brickdam, to lot 133 Crown and Albert Streets, Queenstown.

Gold miners, licensed dealers and the public were urged to take note of the relocation which is expected to take effect from July 3, 2018.

“The board and management of the Guyana Gold Board wish to express our gratitude for your patience during our period of transition and look forward to offering you a more efficient service from our new location,” said the board in a notice on Sunday.
Prior to the announcement, the Ministry of Natural Resources had met with the board and the GGMC to discuss and resolve claims of mercury emissions and the closure of the laboratory attached to the board.

The ministry had decided that the laboratory would be moved within the shortest possible time, so as to safeguard the health of workers of the GGMC and gold board. The intention of the Ministry of Natural Resources was to have the laboratory moved in the first instance and then the administrative offices of the board thereafter.

In order to ascertain whether that was indeed the case, an international team from the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) had conducted a survey of the compound, but did not find threatening levels of mercury at the complex.
The team had orally briefed the Ministers of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, and Public Health, Volda Lawrence, on their findings.

“The team did say though that they are not here to certify that necessarily, but they did say that they found that the levels at the GGMC compound and its environs were below any threatening level. That I believe is a testament that the job was very well done,” Minister Trotman had said.

The Guyana Gold Board was established on May 15, 1982, to manage the business of trading gold in Guyana.

The board purchases and sells gold within Guyana and abroad, at a standard price which is fixed twice daily. It also secures adequate supplies of gold, ensures equitable distribution at fair prices and engages in other commercial and industrial activities.

It has issued dealers’ licences to eight entities and individuals who help to facilitate the purchase of gold from sellers across Guyana. In addition to its office in Georgetown, the GGB has offices in Bartica. Telephone numbers are 225-3148, 225-3173 and 225-3139.