Mining symposium focuses on creating safer environment for miners

The Natural Resources Ministry on Thursday collaborated with the Australian High Commission to facilitate an Australia Alumni Mining Symposium which was held under the theme “Towards a Green Development Strategy, Ensuring Decent Work Environments for Artisanal and Small-scale Miners (ASM).”
The two-day symposium, aimed at creating a safer environment for miners through improved safety practices, developing the capacity of miners through training and sharing international practices in the areas of exploration and prospecting, gold recovery, alternative technologies to mercury, improved livelihoods, and environmental management.
It is also expected to create solutions and good policies, so as to ensure that those individuals who work in mining activities are operating under decent working conditions.
Stakeholders were involved in discussions on the process that is being undertaken to market Guyana’s gold resources, and business considerations when investing in artisanal mining. Additionally, approaches will be explored which can enable miners to apply geological data to locate economically viable deposits, and alternatives that can be used in the place of mercury, which is known to damage the health of miners after exposure for some time.
To commence the day’s discussions, the Alumni Coordinator of the University of

Western Australia, Muza Gondwe, explained that miners contribute significantly to the local communities, and therefore commented on the needs of these miners to efficiently produce high yields.
“This issue (revolves) around exploration and providing ASM miners with the capacity and tools, skills, and knowledge to efficiently find gold; and in doing so, reduce the damage to the environment, improve health and safety, increase recovery, increase profitability, and improve livelihoods,” she said.
The remarks of Australian High Commissioner John Pilbeam were read by a representative, who explained that this was an enterprise which had been in the making for many months, and is important to the overall growth of the industry.
“Mining seminars are a dime a dozen, but what I wanted to see was a symposium that looked at mining and development (while) zeroing in on the little guy and gal. Small scale miners are the key contributors to Guyana’s economy. They account for almost 70 percent of the gold that the Government buys”, the statement detailed.
It was related that there is seldom participation from women at mining camps in Guyana, but that is one of the situations which should be modified.
The forum will conclude today.