–gov’t committed to ensure mining is not done to the detriment of the environment
–Dr. Jagdeo says, highlights country’s track record of conservation of forest, ecosystems

IN Guyana, just over 50,000 persons are employed in the mining sector and the government here has consistently supported local miners while simultaneously pushing conservation efforts to protect the country’s forest and its biodiversity.
This was according to General Secretary of the governing Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) and Guyana’s Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo in his response to critics, during a press conference on Thursday.
“We are unapologetic about encouraging mining in this country. Mining provides a significant part of our gross domestic product; it creates a significant part of income base for many Guyanese. It contributes to employment opportunities for tens of thousands of our people,” Dr. Jagdeo said.
He added: “Any responsible government would have to ensure that mining does well because it is a source of income and employment opportunities for our people.”
Over 85 per cent of Guyana’s land mass is forests — with a very low deforestation rate of less than one per cent.
“We have done mining in an environmentally safe manner in the past several decades, in spite of the growth of mining in this country. We have kept our ecosystems intact, we have kept our forest intact, we have the lowest deforestation rate in the world and the second highest forest cover in the world,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

He pointed out that while Guyana has consistently managed to conserve its forest, the government has equally supported mining.
Dr. Jagdeo related: “We will continue to support miners in this country. We will continue to ensure that mining is not done to the detriment of the environment, as we have done and our global credentials on protecting eco-systems is a very strong credential; it’s a strong one, [and] it’s internationally recognised.”

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, had recently said that over 700 small miners have been able to access land tenures.
“Over the last three years, we have held three lotteries to date, and over 550 small miners have benefitted from their own mineral property. This year alone in Bartica, 150; in Mahdia, 200 that is 350 in 2024 alone, small Guyanese miners who now have their permit to work on their own plot of land,” the minister said too at a news conference.

He reiterated that the government has been encouraging more investment in more lucrative forms of mining.
“I can say safely, over 700 small miners have land tenures over the last three to four years, the 550 that I mentioned is only through the lotteries,” he said.
The minister further highlighted the important role that the forestry and mining sectors play in the country’s economy.

Bharrat said: “The [Guyana Forestry Commission] GFC has been doing an excellent job in managing our forest. We can boast even though we have a vibrant forestry sector that we have one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world.”
According to Minister Bharrat, the country has seen over 100 new sawmills, and over 50 new lumberyards. The mining sector has also seen exponential increases in sand production, loom, and bauxite.
It was recently reported that Guyana has seen a decline in illegal mining in its forested regions. According to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, this was a result of investments in technology.
President Ali had said that illegal gold mining in the Amazon Basin has been an issue stakeholders have been working to address.

“If you look at our population and the size of our defence force and our law enforcement capability, you will see how difficult it is to police our geographic space or to monitor it,” he said, adding: “Today we can deploy technology that is helping us and we are investing in that technology so we have greater success in identifying, illegal mining and in bringing those, who are culpable to justice.”

According to Dr. Ali, there is an “inextricable link” between national security and natural security that requires attention.
“We have had tremendous reduction in illegal mining. We have more constant monitoring. We have invested more in field officers, and we have more, technology, as I said, deployed to help us in mitigating against this,” he said.