By Leonard GildarieGuyana Goldfields Inc., a Canadian company, is set to start large-scale mining operations this year at Aurora, Region Seven.In the past weeks we examined various aspects of the gold sector. From the rise when prices climbed to US$1900 per ounce,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and the worrying drop, we have attempted from a layman’s perspective to bring the spotlight on an industry that has made many rich and,wholesale jerseys, more than a few, heartbroken.The vagaries of the market would make the sector a classic study case for a student.The ‘gold bush’ is terribly beautiful and dangerous place that continues to draw fortune seekers by the hundreds.This week we will focus on what Government has been saying with regards to the measures it has taken to help steady the sector.As we speak, the issue has also started to attract the attention of the Opposition, with APNU stating that it lends support for miners.According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Guyana’s gold mining sector has a sound footing and continues to grow. However, it is vulnerable to international market conditions,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, like prices.The ministry acknowledged that the sector has been a major catalyst for economic growth in recent years. The rise in price on the world market has consistently helped in increasing declaration over the last decade.“The importance of the gold mining sector to our economy cannot be over-emphasized since gold has been the largest earner of foreign revenue for the last seven years,” the Ministry said.The Ministry made it clear that it has not stood idly by. Rather, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) with collaboration with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), several areas have been identified aimed at ensuring that the sector remains viable.TAX WAIVERSAn Inter-Ministerial Task Force was created to undertake specific interventions aimed at supporting and streamlining the sector.The interventions include duty free waivers on spares and equipment. According to the Ministry,Wholesale Jerseys China, a list of 19 suppliers of mining equipment and spares were approved for tax waivers. This is aimed to reduce the cost of spares and critical supplies for miners and is an addition to other items like pumps, flexes, and mattings.Based on requests, Government has also granted a fuel licence to GGDMA. The association is reportedly still to start importing, although it was granted the licence last year.It is unclear what happens now that the oil price has dropped significantly on the world market but is not fully filtering down in Guyana because of the current fuel tax in place.Also in place is what is called a Mercury Free Mining Development Fund. According to the ministry, stakeholders of the sector are fully aware of the need to increase gold recoveries and eliminate the use of mercury in the gold extraction process. The ministry argued that the adoption and use of mercury-free and improved recovery technologies is even more critical now given the low gold prices experienced by the sector.The Mercury Free Mining Development Fund with a $1B startup is aimed at promoting such technologies, the Ministry said. Already work has started between the miners association and GGMC to test mercury-free technologies. Any new technology will have to ensure greater recoveries, reduced costs, increased revenues and ultimately a sustainable gold mining sector.According to the Ministry, it is also continuing to examine different ways to maintain the many miles of hinterland roads. This is against the background that monies and other resources are limited.ROAD MAINTENANCE“In pursuit of this, a combination of approaches was undertaken. GGMC is currently reviewing feasible road designs and construction methods that can be adopted bearing the constraint of financial resources in mind. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to implement Road Users’ Agreement for specific heavily traversed roads that are prone to destruction, since it is recognized that heavy usage of the road in wet conditions lead to damage and require continuous rehabilitation at significant cost.”The Ministry insisted that the expenditure of funds on hinterland infrastructure is as a result of a collaborative effort with the key stakeholder, GGDMA. As a matter of fact, last year, the miners association provided a list of hinterland infrastructure for rehabilitation that it deemed critical. “These roads/bridges were rehabilitated and the same approach will be undertaken in 2015 whereby GGDMA will provide its considerable insight on areas for special focus.”Also duty free concessions were granted on all terrain vehicles (ATVs),<a href="http://www.wholesaleauthenticjerseyschin

Head of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Accident and Emergency Department, Dr. Zulfikar Bux,Cheap NFL Football Jerseys, is arguably the first Guyanese to have participated in a prestigious medical programme offered by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.The month-long Global Health Delivery Intensive programme saw Dr. Bux participating in the programme in Boston,Wholesale NBA Jerseys China, Massachusetts,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, United States.The GPHC yesterday announced that Dr. Bux was one of the 42 graduates from the programme which saw scholars from 17 countries participating. He was however the only recipient of the Harvard Chan School of Public Health Abundance scholarship.The Global Health Intensive Delivery Programme is specially designed to train medical scholars in the development of global healthcare. The course teaches health leaders on effective health care management and development in low resource settings.Graduates are expected to apply their knowledge to ensure cost effective but optimal healthcare delivery in their settings. The programme also creates a link between the graduates so that they can share their knowledge and resources and further the development of global health initiatives.According to the GPHC,NFL Jerseys Outlet, Dr. Bux is optimistic that he will utilize his acquired skills to continue the development of healthcare both at a national level and at the GPHC.He expressed his gratitude to the faculties at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health whom he stated were all amazed at the rate of development of Emergency Medicine in Guyana.Dr. Bux is also confident that the success of emergency medical care in Guyana could not have been possible without the strong support of his leadership team at the GPHC.He was also very thankful for their support in facilitating his participation in this course.The Head of Emergency disclosed too that it is a challenging time for healthcare locally,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, and he is urging all involved to work towards what’s best for the patients and not their personal wants.With the knowledge gained,Cheap Jerseys, Dr. Bux assured that he is now even more equipped to assist in the evolution of emergency medical care in Guyana and will continue to be an advocate for effective, efficient and ethical patient care for all.

Low Carbon Development Strategy…The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) says it expects no genuine consultations on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LDCS) that was launched by President Jagdeo last Monday.PNCR executive council member, Lance Carberry,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, said there should have been consultations before the draft strategy was developed, and hence, “the cart is manifestly here before the horse.”It is believed that by having the consultations after the launch of the plan, the Jagdeo government will ensure that its documents remain virtually intact.“The Jagdeo Administration is fully aware that very few of our citizens would want to incur the wrath and venom of the Administration,Cheap Jerseys From China, by making any major proposals to change the text of the Low-Carbon Development Strategy,” Carberry stated.He took particular note of the fact that the work and research being undertaken by the Iwokrama International Centre, finds no mention in the Strategy. The Centre manages the one-million acre Iwokrama forest in the heart of Guyana, to show how tropical forests can be conserved and sustainably used to provide ecological, social and economic benefits to local, national and international communities.The forest was offered, by the now late and former President Desmond Hoyte of the PNCR administration.The PNCR finds it a matter of curiosity that the Jagdeo Administration “did not think that the work and research being undertaken by the Centre, to be of sufficient importance for informing the development and implementation of the plan, for realising the benefits from the Low-Carbon Development Strategy.”“It is remarkable that, in this country, the PPP and the Jagdeo Administration continue to believe that the history of this nation began in 1992. Anything of worth or which is a credit to any other organisation or group is ruthlessly excised,” Carberry stated.However, he said of greater concern to the PNCR, is the manner in which the people of Guyana will benefit from the financial and other benefits accruing from the proposed Low-Carbon Development Strategy and the Avoided Deforestation initiative of President Jagdeo.So far, Carberry suggested, the Administration has proceeded on the assumption that the natural resources of Guyana are under the exclusive control of the PPP Administration to do as they please.“Consequently, the benefits to be derived may be treated in the same inequitable and discriminatory manner in which the Jagdeo regime has been conducting the affairs of Guyana,” he charged.“The Jagdeo Administration should be put on notice,Cheap NFL Jerseys, however, that the PNCR is determined to ensure that any benefits, which Guyana derives, from its natural resources endowment are equitably distributed,Cheap NFL Jerseys, for the benefit of all citizens and free from political partisanship,” Carberry declared.The government is seeking an international partnership that will provide incentives for keeping alive about 80 percent of Guyana’s forests, or some 15 million hectares, which have not been touched over time. These forests form part of the State Forest Estate, and Amerindian communities are being told they can opt into the initiative, or choose not to be part of it.This week,China NFL Jerseys, the government will launch a three-month consultation process on the Low Carbon Development Strategy.Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin said the PNCR does not have confidence in the consultative process, because Jagdeo had also promised a series of consultations on his strategy for avoided deforestation,Cheap NHL Jerseys, but this has not happened.