| At the recently held Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), it was revealed that over the past year, that raiding has become a much bigger issue in the interior than it was in the past.Making this revelation was the Vice-President of the Association,Maglia Juventus Bambino, Andron Alphonso, who said that the issue is a sore one.“It causes distress to miners, many of whom would travel great distances to get to their properties only to find that it has already been worked out.He pointed out also,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, that there have been instances where raiders were served removal orders, and even physically removed by law enforcement officials only to return within a few days.“This level of lawlessness must be addressed, as setting this kind of precedent in the interior of Guyana can only lead to further lawlessness and the breakdown of law and order,”The Vice-President said that in addition to the raiders, many illegal shops have been set up in close proximity to these raiding huts. These shops, he alleged, are engaged in activities,China NFL Jerseys, not least among them prostitution,Maglia Inter 2019 Originale, trafficking in persons, and other manner of illicit activities.He added that the presence of these illegal establishments further contributes greatly to the already existing perception that miners are “in favour of this illegal out-of-order behaviour.”Alphonso called on miners to not support these establishments. He also called on all of the regulatory bodies to step up their monitoring and response time with regards to these activities.He also wants the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and prosecuting bodies to impose more stringent measures against repeat offenders.Alphonso added that in the coming months,Cheap Air Max 90 Wholesale, the GGDMA will be intensifying its campaign to have raiding addressed. It is spinning out of control and will likely end in bloodshed, he said.Alternatives to mercury use needed urgentlyA few years ago, Guyana became a signatory to the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This international treaty was designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.This Convention was a result of three years of meeting and negotiating, after which the text of the Convention was signed by delegates from 140 countries on January 19, 2013.The Convention is named after the Japanese city of Minamata. This naming is of symbolic importance as the city went through devastating incident of mercury poisoning.It is expected that over the next few decades,Tottenham Shirt 2018/19, this international agreement will enhance the reduction of mercury pollution from the targeted activities responsible for the major release of mercury to the immediate environment.A recently released study conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has shown that Guyana still faces a challenge in reducing the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining related activities and dealing with the effects of the element.The study stated: “It is already posing a considerable risk to communities (in the Guianas) from direct and indirect exposure, especially through consumption of contaminated fish.Mercury is very persistent in nature and the effects of the current mercury use will continue to be felt into the next century. Since a minimum of 80 tonnes is being used and lost into the environment in the Guianas each year, without swift and decisive actions, this sad legacy will only get worse,”However, with countries like Guyana where it is evident that the mining industry is the strongest pillar supporting the national economy, alternative measures are needed as soon as possible.Vice-President Alphonso said during the AGM that one of the more serious threats that the future of the industry faces is low recovery rates and the authorities are yet to identify an economically viable alternative method to replace mercury in recovering gold.While the GGDMA recognises the steps being taken by the GGMC to come up with alternatives, the options that have been presented have thus far, will not be easily applicable to small miners to medium scale miners.Additionally, these alternatives identified are too expensive to implement as well as to be maintained, Alphonso posited.He added that with the impending proposal to ban the use of mercury in the recovery of gold in the next few years in Guyana,Fc Bayern Trikot Champions League, this need must be fulfilled.“We wish to continue to call on the Ministry of Natural Resources and GGMC to continue to explore options that are applicable to miners so that the industry does not grind to a halt. The GGDMA stands ready and able to work with all stakeholders to find a much need resolution for this serious issue.” Alphonso said. |
