Mining And Minerals Industries News - Guyana. Re: At Mining Day forum in Canada … Minister Gopaul sells Guyana as country with immense mining potential –also plugs its proverbial hospitality among other advantages... Also, According To This News Article, GUYANA is open for business and its mining sector holds vast potential for investors, declared Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda K. Gopaul, as he delivered remarks at the Guyana Mining Day at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Canada. Minister Gopaul conveyed greetings from His Excellency, President Ramotar, the people of Guyana and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, whom he represented at the Guyana Mining Day event. Dr. Gopaul told the forum that exploration of Guyana’s minerals offer many opportunities for investment, coupled with the people’s hospitality and the county’s progressive and modern labour laws, which make for cordial relationships between workers and employers. The Labour Minister, who led the Guyana delegation to the event, including representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, urged investors to explore the prospect of mining in Guyana, as the country is a strong advocate for profitable and environmentally-friendly mining ventures. Speaking about the environment, Minister Gopaul noted that the mining of minerals presents lucrative opportunities but these are balanced by the country’s commitment to preserve its pristine rainforest and the environment, as well as strong emphasis on ensuring occupational health and safety practices. He noted that the labour ministry continues to boost its capacity, in conjunction with its partners, to monitor adherence to occupational health and safety and mining regulations, which were produced in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. Gopaul said further that strong emphasis is paid to improving the skilled workforce at the technical and academic levels to meet the growing labour demands in the mining sector, adding that in collaboration with several partners, including government agencies, and the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry, persons are regularly trained in the necessary skills, such as heavy duty machinery operations. LABOUR LAWS IN FRENCH However, he added, investors can source skilled labour overseas when necessary. He also said that Guyana can make available its labour laws in French to accommodate Canadian companies preferring that language. He also pointed out that Go-Invest and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment provide an enabling environment to encourage investors and will work assiduously to ensure investment risks are minimised. He highlighted too the dynamism with which these bodies have pursued investors for development, which can be attested to by the country’s strong private sector that has been playing a meaningful role in national development. He emphasised that Guyana is a democracy with executive, judicial and legislative branches, all of which will ensure that the rule of law prevails to reduce investment risks in spite of the political climate. MATURING EXTRACTIVE SECTOR MARKET Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Nicole Giles noted that Guyana has emerged as a maturing extractive sector market, and Guyana Goldfields, a Canadian mining company, has recently launched the construction of what will be the largest gold mine in Guyana. Dr. Giles also said that she was impressed by the commitment and forward trajectory of Canadian companies gathered at this year’s Mining Day to discuss plans and activities for responsible mineral exploration and development in Guyana in spite of facing commodity markets that are not as favourable as they once were. “The Government of Canada remains committed in this and many other ways to supporting efforts to develop the extractive sector in Guyana… The immense potential of Guyana is being realised by a number of Canadian firms who are capitalising upon opportunities for investment and expansion. The Canadian High Commission is working with these companies on a number of fronts to enhance the potential for success…” she said. The Canadian High Commission, in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and other stakeholders in Guyana, is currently reviewing the Guyana Mining tool-kit which provides critical educational information on such areas as the different lifecycles of a mine, the various regulations and laws which are applicable in the mining field specific to Guyana, identifies many of the issues which may arise, and suggests ways that they can be addressed by all, the High Commissioner noted. She added that this initiative aims to help local communities, governments and companies implement related development projects – such as in the area of small and medium agricultural enterprises – for the benefit of people living near mines or other development activities. GEO-TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION Several Canadian companies are already operating in Guyana, including Guyana Goldfields, Sandspring Resources, CGX Energy and Reunion Manganese. The Government of Canada is also working with Guyana to assist the development of a regionally accredited, geo-technology education programme as well as other vocation-skills programmes to develop the Guyanese workforce.... guyanachronicle/at-mining-day-forum-in-canada/
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 07:02:06 +0000
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