GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Mar 11, CMC – The Guyana government says it is continuing its exercise against illegal mining activities and that seven foreign nationals, including six Brazilians have been arrested in the latest enforcement exercise.
A statement from the Ministry of Natural Resources said that a coordinated operation across Guyana’s mining districts conducted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) led to the discovery of two illegal mining sites along the Puruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
It said as a result six Brazilian nationals and one Venezuelan were found working illegally and that following the operation, the GGMC instituted several charges against the land owners.
The charges range from operating without a licence or permit, operating without permission to mine and employing workers without work permits or certificates of registration. They have also been charged with being unable to produce a register of labourers as well as being unable to produce a register of poisonous substances.
The ministry said that the foreign nationals were escorted to the Bartica Police Station for processing while an excavator, dragger and other equipment used in the illegal operations have been placed in the State’s possession.
“The ministry has taken the necessary steps to ensure all costs for environmental reclamation are covered by the unlicensed operators,” the ministry said, adding the discovery of the two illegal mining operations are among others which have been dismantled over the past few months following President Irfaan Ali’s call to ensure greater compliance in the mining sector.
In January, Ali said gold miners who fail to declare their production will face immediate consequences, including deregistration, prosecution, and possible expulsion as the government intensifies its crackdown on illegal and non-compliant mining operations.
“All registered dredges with no declaration will be deregistered, and all foreign miners operating illegally in Guyana must be identified for prosecution and expulsion,” Ali said.
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