New GGMC Chairman pledges to “unshackle” mining sector

 Newly sworn in Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Stanley Ming has pledged to see that the mining community grows and enhances as he says he will oversee the unshackling of the sector.

Ming made the comment as the new board for the Commission was sworn in with representatives from different stakeholders on Friday morning.

Replacing ex-Chairman Clinton Williams, Ming made it clear that the past undertakings at the Commission will not be repeated.

“The people of this country have been bludgeoned, manacled, shackled and forced into doing things,” said Ming.

He stated that those things were sometimes not in the best interest of the country’s mining sector hence their needs to be a change – that’s where he comes in.

“My job is to unshackle,” he declared nothing his enthusiasm to serve the Guyanese public in this capacity.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman stated that the mining sector is undoubtedly one of Guyana’s physical engines of growth and should be regarded as such.

He indicated that for 2016, the Government has set a target of 550,000 ounces of gold for declaration with 35,000 ounces declared in January.

Trotman noted that there will be challenges to the sector and the new commission but these will be dealt with in a just manner.

“Some of the practices in the past have not been in the best interest of the country,” he stated noting that certain reviews are already in the pipelines.

The Minister also announced government’s intention of releasing additional lands for miners, especially small miners.

“We want to make sure that lands are being made available to miners – large, medium and small. There is too much of a cry from small miners that they are being left out or lands given to them are not viable,” Trotman stated.