GGDMA urges miners to use mercury responsibly

Following numerous reports of higher-than- normal levels of mercury being found in interior waterways, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has issued a call on its members to utilise mercury in a much more responsible and safer way.
The GGDMA has said it is committed to the responsible use of mercury in small and medium scale gold mining, while reaffirming its commitment to the Minimata Convention on Mercury. Additionally, the GGDMA has said it is still waiting on Government to provide the technical and financial assistance to miners under the Convention.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. It was agreed at the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Mercury in Geneva, Switzerland on January 19, 2013, and was later adopted on October 10, 2013.
The Convention draws attention to a global and ubiquitous metal that, while naturally occurring, has broad uses in everyday objects and is released to the atmosphere, soil and water from a variety of sources. Controlling the anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle has been a key factor in shaping the obligations under the Convention.
Major highlights of the Convention include a ban on new mercury mines, the phasing out of existing ones, the phasing out and phasing down of mercury use in a number of products and processes, control measures on emissions to air and on releases to land and water, and regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. The Convention also addresses interim storage of mercury, and its disposal once it becomes waste, sites contaminated by mercury as well as health issues.
Over the last few months, there have been reports on increased levels of mercury in several waterways in interior regions. Additionally, the Guyana Water Inc. was forced to temporarily close its Port Kaituma well after it discovered high mercury content in the Kaituma River. High levels of mercury were also found in a number of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission employees.
The GGDMA notes it is aware of these instances of unsafe mercury exposure as well as the challenges in finding a solution. The Association said that while the GGMC’s workers’ exposure to mercury was unfortunate, it did in some way convince the Government that addressing the issue of mercury requires more than just compliance enforcers.
“GGDMA is perplexed that Government has neither published a credible national action plan for mercury use in small scale gold mining in Guyana, nor provided the requisite technical assistance or financial assistance to the small-scale gold mining sector. We once again note that such assistance is contemplated and encouraged by the Minamata Convention to which Guyana is a signatory,” The GGDMA stated.
“In the circumstances we continue to call upon our local gold miners to use mercury responsibly: using gloves, respirators, retorts, and by refraining from putting mercury in the mining pit. We encourage miners to seek advice from the relevant GGMC technical staff on the safe use of mercury. The GGDMA is committed to working with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the GGMC, the EPA, the OSH Department of the Ministry of Social Protection, as well as with Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund, and others to find feasible solutions to the challenge presented by the necessary use of mercury in small scale gold mining in Guyana,” it added.
The association said it intends to seek partnership with the large-scale foreign mining and petroleum companies with the goals of finding feasible solutions to the mercury challenge, and support for health and safety and environmental management in small scale mining in general.