Over 200 mining blocks to be allocated in Region One over two weeks

More than 200 mining blocks are set to be allocated to small miners in Region One (Barima-Waini) over the next two weeks, as the government ramps up efforts to expand access to the mining sector and boost economic activity.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, made the announcement on Wednesday during the opening session of a mining lottery at the Matthews Ridge Community Centre.

“This week and next week alone we will be allotting over 110 plots or mining concessions to small miners, Guyanese miners because one of the main criteria for being eligible for this lottery is that you must be Guyanese,” Bharrat said.

The exercise forms part of a series of lotteries being held from April 15–17 and April 22–24.

The initiative, organised by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), will see significant land distribution to small-scale miners.

On Wednesday, 75 small miners from Region One were each awarded 50-acre plots.

Bharrat explained that the system allows miners to remain active even if their initial plots do not yield results.

“Part of it states that if you go on the property and there is no real sign of mineralization, you come back to GGMC, you relinquish, you give up that plot of land and they now will allocate you another plot of 50 acres…or if you are working the land and you are satisfied that you have worked out the land…then you come back to GGMC again…saying you are seeking an alternative and they will give you an alternative.”

“So the intention is to give those 75 persons in mining one way or the other,” he explained.

According to Bharrat, the initiative is also opening doors for new entrants to the sector. “One of the lottery is limited to miners who have never had any mining concession claims or blocks, so the 75 persons who will be allocated today (Wednesday) will be first time land owners…that is the commitment that I spoke of,” he said.

Interest has been high, with 128 applications received, the majority from Region One. Another lottery scheduled for next week will benefit an additional 30 miners from the region.

“It shows that our people are interested, that you want to get into the sector that you want to be part of development of our country,” he said said.

As allocations continue across the two-week period, Bharrat also urged miners to operate responsibly.

“When you mine, please mine with the environment in mind….we have no issue of people mining but it should not be of a detriment of others,” Bharrat said.