A SEVEN-MEMBER Guyanese delegation is currently attending the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Conference on Mercury (COP 3) in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 25 to 29, 2019.

Guyana signed and ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury in October, 2013 and in September, 2014, respectively. The Minamata Convention is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and its compounds.

The delegation is headed by Ambassador Dr John Deep Ford, Guyana’s Ambassador in Geneva and includes Ms Mariscia Charles from the Ministry of Natural Resources; Mr Darcy Walrond and Mr Carlos Todd, of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission; Felicia Adams-Kellman, Environmental Protection Agency; Ingrid Sarabo, of Conservation International; and Ms. Cheryl Williams, from the National Mining Syndicate.

Over the five-day period, the delegation will participate in the plenary and contact group discussions for the adoption of articles and agenda items aimed at phasing out and eliminating, where feasible, the use of mercury in all activities.

The countries have recently commenced the development of the National Action Plan for the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector project with an Inception Workshop on November 5, 2019. The project was developed through funding from the Global Environment Facility and with technical support from UN Environment and co-executed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean.

For Guyana, specific focus is being placed on the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector. Guyana will be participating in the planet Gold ASGM and the African Group Dental Amalgam events as a panellist and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for the Caribbean side event on Managing Mercury in the Caribbean.