President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Friday held a face-to-face meeting with miners in Puruni, Region Seven, during which he allayed any concerns they may have about the increasing regularisation of the sector and pledged to help fast track them into compliance.

Over the past year, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government has introduced various measures to bring greater compliance to the mining sector.

Such measures include requiring all miners to have bank accounts. Miners with no gold declarations also face their dredges being de-registered.  

During Friday’s meeting in Puruni with small and medium scale miners, President Ali assured them of the government’s support.

For instance, the President promised to help fast track their documentation so they can be compliant.

“I know you have to meet certain requirements, before you get the license. We are now working, when the team comes back in the next few days, to give you an opportunity to get your documentation. Whilst we allow you, the Guyanese miners, the foreign miners we’re going to accelerate your documentation process, so that within six weeks, everybody must be in line. And we must see those declarations at the gold board here” the president explained.

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, who was also present at the meeting, assured miners that the enforcement activities are not meant to push miners out of the sector.

Rather, they are meant to ensure that the sector remains viable and sustainable. Bharrat urged the miners to work with the government and to practice safe, environmentally friendly mining techniques.

“It is designed to help you to become compliant. It is designed to make sure your operations are legal. It is designed to ensure that when you make your gold, it is sold to the Guyana Gold Board. And now we have an office right in Puruni. So we want to work with you. But you must work with us too,” he said.

For 2025, a total of 484,321 ounces of gold was declared, with the sector expanding by 11.6 per cent.

Budget 2026 includes provision to incentivise more gold declarations, including mobile purchasing locations in Puruni and other locations.