GGDMA boycotting Mining Week 2017

…accusing Govt of failing industry

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), along with the National Mining Syndicate, is accusing Government of failing the mining industry.
Accordingly, they have decided to boycott Mining Week 2017 activities.
The two organisations, in a statement, accused the Government of only taking from the miners, without developing infrastructure or providing adequate services in return.
“The spirit of the thousands of miners and their workers are at the utmost low. Many miners are demotivated and wanting to close their operations, while others are not reinvesting and are simply going through the motion to pay their bills. This is what this Government has done to the Gold and Diamond Mining Sector,” the statement read.
They highlighted that Mining Week is a time for reflection and recognition of the accomplishments within the mining industry. It is a time for both public and private sectors to together celebrate the progress made, but there is no unity within the industry.
“Instead, the local mining industry has suffered the ire of more taxation, more fees, false promises, and the deliberate and continued withholding of cost-saving policies traditionally enjoyed by miners. There is no reason to celebrate. The Association and the National Mining Syndicates (has chosen) not to be a part of a week of activities that is more for the purpose of public relations than for the benefit of individuals involved or interested in getting involved in the sector,” the statement added.
The GGDMA accused the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) of irregularities and insubordination. They are also calling on the Government to identify their National Mining Policy, stating that the miners are doing their part and the Government should do its part.
They chastised the GGMC for the reintroduction of the six months’ notice for the conversion of a prospecting permit to a mining permit.
“The GGDMA finds this policy as outrageous and unacceptable. We therefore ask the question: is the GGMC and the Government of Guyana serious about business, serious about local investors, serious about Foreign Direct Investment? It does not seem so from their policies,” the GGDMA said.
The call for better infrastructure and more lands for the mining syndicates were reiterated while the bodies continued expressing disappointment in the way the industry is managed.
Mining week 2017 commenced on August 20 and will conclude today.