THE Natural Resources Ministry has objected to the importation of 30,000 kilogrammes of mercury from Mexico as it accelerates plans to eradicate the use of mercury in mining.
The disclosure was made by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Friday, during a visit to the Guyana Gold Board’s new office at Crown Street, Queenstown in Georgetown. Recently, the Government of Mexico contacted the natural resources minister and informed him that an exporter was seeking approval for the shipment of 30,000 kilogrammes of mercury to Guyana. The Natural Resources Ministry objected.

Minister Trotman told reporters that little information was provided on the purpose of the shipment. “I did not get too many details and it was on that basis that I refused importation because what is it going to be used for, how is it going to be stored, how is it going to be disposed of, and 30, 000 kilogrammes is a lot,” the natural resources minister said.

He said that the government is deeply concerned about the use of mercury, particularly its negative effects on marine life and people, who depend on the river as a daily source of water for consumption and domestic use.

Alluding to the recent incidents of elevated mercury emissions within the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s (GGMC), due to the then presence of the Guyana Gold Board’s laboratory, Minister Trotman said that the past should never be allowed to repeat itself. Investigations are currently ongoing into the deaths of four GGMC staffs – Dwayne De Jonge (ranger), Latchman Chiti (surveyor), Leroy Green (carpenter) and Clement Proffit (lab technician) – over allegations that their demise may have been linked to emissions from the lab.

ELIMINATING USE OF MERCURY
Even as the ministry, GGMC and the Guyana Gold Board recover from the incidents, increasing efforts are being made to eliminate the use of mercury in mining, and in the meantime ensure that it is managed properly when in use.
It is likely that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will increase the monitoring of gold dealers to ensure that the regulations are followed closely.
“We have a proliferation of small operations in Bartica. You could just go down Church Street or Water Street or some parts of Georgetown and you’ll see people buying gold,” the natural resources minister remarked.

Gold dealers or persons who engage in the buying and selling of gold are mandated to have an environmental permit from the EPA for a period of one year. This will not be a prerequisite when applying for a licence from the Gold Board to become a certified gold dealer.

“So we are adding yet another layer of regulation because we don’t want to know that whether it be in Robb Street or First Street Bartica, people are at risk,” Minister Trotman said.

Like in many parts of the world, mercury is used to amalgamate gold but there are decade old concerns over its negative environmental and health impacts. In October 2013, Guyana signed and ratified the Minamata Convention for the eradication of the use of mercury in mining by 2022. But progress in this regard has been slow thus far, despite moves by GGMC to provide artisanal miners or small scale miners with alternatives.

NEW PROGRAMME
The Natural Resources Ministry is not giving up on its mandate, Minister Trotman assured. “We are now in the process of unveiling a programme with Conservation International (CI) known as El Dorado Gold to look at alternatives to mercury. It is an ongoing process but miners are convinced that mercury gives them their best returns. It is the government’s job to work with them in finding alternatives which are viable,” he said.
The natural resources minister said the negative impacts mercury has on the environment and people, cannot be ignored. When the 2019 National Budget is put before the National Assembly later this year, the Natural Resources Ministry will be making a case for the purchasing of “Shaker Tables.”

A shaker table is an equipment used in the gold mining industry to separate heavy metals from other fine constituents. “So like with the Syndicates which I think are better organized, we would actually give them say five tables among themselves to work, and if they work in a cooperative manner we can get greater value that way,” he said.
Small scale miners will also be further exposed to training with respect to alternatives to mercury.