Minister of Natural Resources advances Mining lands distribution

– Mining Lotteries to commence March 22, 2019

As part of its efforts to ensure the fair distribution of mining lands to waiting applicants, the Minister of Natural Resources has tasked the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Closed Area Committee (CAC) to move forward with the distribution of mining lands by means of a series of mining lotteries set to commence on Friday, March 22, 2019.

The criteria, methodology, and timelines for the mining lottery were finalized by Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Raphael Trotman, GGMC Commissioner Mr. Newell Dennisson and CAC

Chairman Ms. Abiola Henry along with their support staff at a meeting held at the Ministry today.

It was the general agreement of the parties that there will be a few lotteries held in the different mining districts which will give preference to residents of those districts. The GGMC is currently in the process of finalizing the list of eligible persons. With this list provided persons within the districts would be able to pull from blocks in that district. Those unallocated areas remaining within the districts after this initial exercise, will be made available to others. The lotteries will also facilitate persons who would have applied several years ago.

Also decided was that the mining lottery will be a three-month process which will include the publishing of the names of persons eligible to participate and public notices stating that the Ministers of Natural Resources and the representatives of the GGMC and CAC will be in the mining areas conducting the closed lottery process.

The first lottery will be held in the Georgetown area on March 22nd, 2019 and will be followed by others being held in areas such as Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Bartica and Mahdia, among others, within the months of April and May, 2019.

The Minister is pleased to have facilitated the advancement of the mining lotteries which has been on his agenda for quite some time. It is further pleasing to the Minister that the lotteries will be mining district specific, therefore allowing small miners within the districts who have applied to now have a chance to have access to available mining properties. Miners who will now benefit from this exercise are encouraged and further expected to utilize the lands given in ways that are safe and environmentally sustainable and that ensure that the laws of Guyana are abided by.