An ongoing dispute in Guyana’s gold sector has sparked alarm among small miners, who say new directives could wipe them out.
The Guyana Gold Board Act of 1981 — reaffirmed in 1994 — explicitly allows licensed shopkeepers in mining districts to advance money, supplies, or goods to miners, with payment in gold. That gold must then be sold to the Gold Board within ten days, with detailed records kept for inspection. The provision was designed to support miners in remote areas while ensuring accountability through the Board.
But shopkeepers now report being told by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission that they can no longer buy gold, and miners are being advised not to sell to them. Critics argue government is ignoring the law’s clear provisions, effectively sidelining small miners who rely on shopkeepers as accessible buyers.
For miners in distant districts, traveling to large dealers or Gold Board offices is often financially impossible. Advocates warn that without shopkeepers, small‑scale operators will be forced out of the industry.
Legal observers note that only Parliament or a ministerial order can amend the Act. Until then, they say, the law remains in force — and the government’s position risks undermining both livelihoods and the rule of law.