HGP Nightly News – The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) says President Dr Irfaan Ali’s new directive to foreign gold mining operators, demanding accurate production figures within 24 hours or risk deregistration and expulsion, is a clear sign that the problems in Guyana’s gold sector have reached a point where decisive action can no longer be avoided.
In a statement, APNU said the move reflects issues the coalition and its elected representatives have repeatedly raised, particularly concerns around weak oversight, declining declarations, and the risk of the state losing major revenues from one of its most valuable sectors.
APNU noted that it has consistently warned of a troubling pattern: declarations falling even as global gold prices rise. The coalition referenced recent comments by APNU Member of Parliament Dr Terrence Campbell, who highlighted what he described as sector irregularities.
According to APNU, Campbell pointed to figures showing that while the world market price of gold rose to US$2,388 per ounce, Guyana’s official declarations dropped significantly from 641,000 ounces to 434,000 ounces. APNU described that trend as consistent with under-declaration and weak regulatory control, and warned it could translate into revenue losses for the state.
The coalition said Campbell’s critiques have centred on the need for transparent reporting, tighter enforcement, and accountability among licensed operators. APNU also warned that without stronger tracking systems and sustained political will, Guyana could see continued leakage in declarations, along with increased vulnerability to illegal activity within the industry.
Against that backdrop, APNU said the President’s directive requiring registered gold miners to substantiate their production or face immediate deregistration aligns with what the coalition has been calling for over time. While APNU said it continues to push for stronger institutional frameworks, it acknowledged that the directive signals movement toward addressing concerns that have been repeatedly raised in Parliament and in public discourse.
APNU also referenced the government’s stated intention to expand monitoring and enforcement across mining districts and to take action against non-compliant dealers, including sanctions and possible licence revocations. The coalition said those measures, if implemented fully, could strengthen transparency in the management of Guyana’s mineral resources.
APNU said it remains committed to engaging stakeholders to support a gold sector governed by legality, accountability, and clear reporting, and insisted that the country’s natural resource wealth must ultimately benefit the Guyanese people.
