Government issues warning to gold miners

GEORGETOWN (CMC):

President Irfaan Ali says 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.

Guyana last year set a target of 500,000 ounces of gold and according to a government statement, Ali has directed that immediate action be taken to ensure that all gold miners fully comply with their obligations to declare all gold produced in 2025.

Ali, who met with senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Friday, said that special attention is focused on some Brazilian miners whose declarations are very low or absent.

They have been given a 24-hour deadline to fully comply with Guyana’s mining laws and declare their gold to the Guyana Gold Board.

According to a government statement, the Natural Resources ministry and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) will work together to ensure all miners across every category (small, medium and large) are properly registered and have a local bank account.

GGDMA’s president, Ronaldo Alphonso, has called on miners to follow the law and sell gold through approved channels.

“It is our responsibility as miners to ensure the sustainability of the industry. We need to make it compliant, and we need to declare gold. Make 2026 the year of compliance and declaration,” Alphonso said.

To strengthen the gold exportation system, the government has since established a task force to comprise the attorney general, the finance minister, the commissioner-general of the Guyana Revenue Authority, the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, the governor of the Central Bank and representatives of the Guyana Gold Board, to identify the loopholes.

Late last year, Ali had announced that a comprehensive assessment of Guyana’s mining sector will be completed and presented on January 5, as the government moves to strengthen accountability, environmental protection and production compliance across the sector.