AS part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal mining, the Ministry of Natural Resources

brought 16 gold miners before the courts in March on various charges under the Mining

Act.

Nine of the miners were charged with the offence of operating without a permit or

licence, two were charged with operating an unregistered dredge, and five were charged with

having a licensed dredge on a property without permission. They all pleaded guilty and

were ordered to pay various fines.

The gold miners were brought before the Bartica and Mahdia Magistrates’ Court,

corresponding to the locations where the ministry’s Corps of Wardens uncovered the

operations.

As robust surveillance continues across all mining districts, the ministry wishes to

remind stakeholders that those found in breach of Guyana’s mining laws and

regulations will be dealt with without fear or favour.

Illegal mining not only drives environmental degradation while threatening public

health and safety but also undermines sustainable mining practices.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is appealing to all operators to work with the relevant regulatory agencies by ensuring full compliance with the rule of law. (MNR)