Visit by Ministry of Natural Resources’ team to Puruni, Region 7 results in the issuing of cease work orders and citations; final report of visit to be submitted
Ministry of Natural Resources, Guyana – In keeping with a commitment made on April 18, 2017, the Ministry of Natural Resources deployed a team comprising Officers of its Compliance Division and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to the Puruni, Region 7 area on April 24 and 25, 2017. This followed the early April 2017, Guyana Human Rights Association report on the effects of gold mining in the Puruni River, and over the border in Venezuela.
Members of the team carrying out tests of water quality.
The Ministry’s team discovered a number of mining infractions being committed during their investigations along the Puruni River. As a result, the GGMC issued cease work orders for five river dredges, one cease work order for a land dredge and one citation for a land dredge.
The report on the wider investigation of all concerns raised by the GHRA report is being finalised for submission to Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Raphael Trotman, and further action to address environmental degradation will be instituted in the coming weeks.
Once the report is received and analysed, it is expected that other Ministries and Agencies will be engaged to find a multi-dimensional solution to a complex issue that is in part driven by mining activities in neighbouring Venezuela.
The Ministry remains committed to good environmental stewardship in all mining operations and urge miners to adhere to all of the laws and regulations governing mining and the environment, or face the full extent of the law.