Govt. completes national action plan to phase out mercury in mining industry

- says 10-year Mineral Policy Framework & Plan in draft mode

Minister of Natural began in October 2013 in ratification in September the development of a Resources, Vickram Bharrat Japan, when Guyana made a 2014 was the formative National Action Plan (NAP) hasconfirmedthatanational global pledge to control and action taken in recognition for Artisanal and Smallaction plan to phase out the addresstheuseofmercuryin of its dedication to Scale Gold Mining in use of mercury in the mining mining. We shared too, our sustainable development Guyana. He explained that i n d u s t r y h a s b e e n commitment to protect the through responsible mining. the development of the NAP completed. environment and human Bharratsaidthisundertaking through a consultative

Bharrat told this health from the adverse and led to the development of process that involved miners newspaper that his ministry potentially fatal effects of Guyana’s Minamata Initial and mining organisations isacutelyawareofthehealth mercury use,” expressed the Assessment in 2016 to help has ensured that the plan and environmental risks that minister to understand, identify and responds accordingly to mercury use poses to people He recalled that also confirm the mercury concerns and realities, as andnature. government signing onto the landscapeinthecountry expressed by the main

“You may recall the Minamata Convention on The minister said this stakeholders (artisanal, journey to curb mercury use mercury and its subsequent assessment was followed by small- and medium-scale m i n e r s , m i n i n g communities, gold traders, local and regional-level l e a d e r s , m i n i n g Bharrat said the mining Mining Act 1989. In this organisations and key sector can advance regard, he said, “There is a agencies). economic diversification need for an updated

Bharrat said the ministry andthecreationofjobswhile legislative regime that views this consultative enhancing sustainable e n a b l e s i m p r o v e d processasanecessarystepas investments in health, governance and the government creates policies educationandinfrastructure. d e v e l o p m e n t o f a and plans for the natural He said these positive responsibleminingsector.” resourcessector benefits are difficult to Towardsthisend,hesaid

He was keen to note that achieve in the absence of a the Guyana Geology and the strategic objectives, strong policy framework. It M i n e s C o m m i s s i o n intervention areas and isforthisreasonBharratalso (GGMC) has been tasked actions outlined in the NAP shared that his ministry has with identifying legislative provide a clear roadmap that drafted a 10-year Mineral gaps and prioritising those willguidethegovernmentas Policy Framework & Plan amendments that will it works with the various which is aligned with the address the loopholes and agencies to support the Government’s vision challenges facing the phased reduction of the use Following the presentation Commission in fully of mercury in ASGM and adoption at Cabinet, he executing its mandate. In practices and the overall said the Guyana Geology 2023, he said the ministry protection of the miners, and Mines Commission will will continue to work with mining communities, their continue implementation in the GGMC to ensure the livelihoods and the 2023. legislative framework environment. Additionally, Bharrat supports the current social, W i t h i m p r o v e d also noted that work is e c o n o m i c a n d governance and practices, progressing to improve the environmentallandscape.

Budget 2023 “deficient in poverty reduction strategy”

- Vinceroy Jordan

Budget 2023 fails to outline a poverty reduction strategyalthoughlabeledthe country’s largest budget witha41.4percentincrease, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Vinceroy Jordan said on Wednesday during the third day of budgetdebates.

“Sir, some are worrying about how is it that a government can be so uncaring in its plans, News article, Jordan pointed Improving Affordability of policies, and programmes, to the United Nations’Food HealthyDiets”. while some worry about a n d A g r i c u l t u r e “That report also states when they will get out of Organisation (FAO) Mr Speaker that 50 percent poverty in this much touted statistical report which of the people living in our oil economy,” Jordan told shows that 43 percent of country live in poverty, they Speaker of the House, Guyanese cannot afford a went on to specify that half ManzoorNadir healthy diet while five of the country’s population

Opposition Member of Parliament, Vinceroy Jordan

The MP said that a percentareundernourished. is surviving on less than sizeable cross-section of The report was released US$5.5centorGY$1000per Guyanese is concerned earlier this month and is day,”theMPsaid. about their survival titled “Regional Overview Jordanmaintainedthat Quoting from a Kaieteur O f

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