The Natural Resources Ministry on Friday facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to monitor the importation of mercury in the country, as the Government pushes towards having a completely mercury-free mining sector.
The framework was signed by officials of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will seek to monitor the use of the substance in various operations, especially gold mining. During the ceremony, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman underscored the importance of mercury-free activities, which Guyana has committed to since 2013 under the previous administration.
At the signing ceremony: EPA Director, Dr Vincent Adams; Minister Raphael Trotman, PTCCB Registrar Trecia Davis-Garnath and GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison
“The determinant for who does the transition to a mercury-free environment is not economics. It is based on national willpower. The journey to a mercury-free Guyana is a long but necessary one. We started that journey in 2013, when we globally expressed our national acknowledgement of the dangers and hazards of mercury,” Trotman expressed.
Commissioner of the GGMC, Newell Dennison noted that the mercury importation is dependent on the amount of gold produced, but in recent years, the volume has decreased. Last year, approximately 10,000 kilograms of the substance was imported. This is significantly lower than the peak of 87,000 kilograms in previous years.
“It went up to 87,000 kilograms is the peak we had in the last seven years or so, but it varies. Last year, we only had about 10,000 kilograms. This is based on the official records. The idea now is for a register to be put in place so we’re able to have a better handle of the stocks supposed to be officially,” Dennison told media operatives.
According to Registrar of the PTCCB, Trecia David-Garnath, her agency will act as one of the primary regulatory bodies for the importation aspect of the element.
“We are one of the key agencies that has a responsibility in the management of the import of mercury in Guyana. The Board will also be looking at distribution and storage of mercury in Guyana. Recognising the hazards and risks is one of the reasons why we are pleased that there will now be a collaborative approach among the three agencies,” the Registrar specified.
Meanwhile, the EPA will be responsible for management and conservation of the environment as well as preventing or controlling pollution, sustainable use of the natural resources, and regulation of wastes comprising of mercury and mercury compounds.
The Ministry was vested with the “overall responsibly to develop, implement and oversee policies for the responsible exploration, development and utilisation of natural resources”. Trotman had positioned that there are indications of mercury being transported across borders to other countries once imported.
Guyana had signed on to the Minamata Convention— an international treaty designed to protect health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.
According to the agreement, the entities are mandated to agree to a limited amount of the substance to be imported for use in small and medium scale mining, starting with 1,000 flasks or 34,000 kilograms per year.
