THE Natural Resources Ministry, on Thursday, expressed deep concerns over reports that some employees of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) have high levels of mercury in their systems.

The affected employees reportedly work at GTT Brickdam’s Office, a short distance away from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s (GGMC) compound which had housed the Guyana Gold Board’s Laboratory. The Natural Resources Ministry and GTT have been communicating on the elevated levels of mercury reportedly detected in some staff members. “The ministry is deeply concerned about the health and wellbeing of all Guyanese and hopes for the improved health of those affected,” it said in a release.
However, it maintained that mercury has been in use in Guyana for decades, explaining that mercury is used by miners in the amalgamation of ‘sponge’ gold and in the burning of gold mercury vapours are released.

“The Government of Guyana is not a user of mercury, (and) every effort is made by the Guyana Gold Board and authorised dealers to prevent the escape of vapours in the process,” the ministry assured. To eliminate the release of mercury emission in the Brickdam area, the Gold Board ceased burning gold at its Brickdam location as of April 2018.

It has since invested $18M in a plant to burn gold at its new Crown Street, Queenstown location as it takes critical steps to prevent mercury from escaping into the atmosphere as was the case at its previous Brickdam, Georgetown location.

Nonetheless, the Natural Resources Ministry said it is collaborating with the Ministries of Public Health and Social Protection to address all mercury-related matters, while pointing out that the National Steering Committee for the Minamata Convention met on August 13 to map the way forward for the reduction of the use of mercury in mining.

In June, the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), following an extensive assessment, said it found no threatening levels of mercury at the complex.

The international team of experts visited Guyana last week and, among other things, assessed the mercury clean-up efforts at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Brickdam complex. The team comprised two industrial hygienists, two physicians and a mining engineer and was headed by Industrial Hygienist and head of the team, Catherine Beecham. The team had visited Guyana following a mercury exposure crisis within GGMC compound.