GUYANA-Government issues yet another warning to gold miners.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Irfaan Ali says gold miners who fail to declare their production will face immediate consequences, including deregistration, prosecution, and possible expulsion, as the government intensifies its crackdown on illegal and non-compliant mining operations.

“All registered dredges with no declaration will be deregistered, and all foreign miners operating illegally in Guyana must be identified for prosecution and expulsion,” Ali said.

Guyana last year set a target of 500,000 ounces of gold, and according to a government statement, President Ali has directed that immediate action be taken to ensure that all gold miners fully comply with their obligations to declare all gold produced in 2025.

Ali, who met with senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Friday, said that special attention is being paid to some Brazilian miners whose declarations are very low or absent.

They have been given a 24-hour deadline to comply with Guyana’s mining laws fully and declare their gold to the Guyana Gold Board.

According to a government statement, the Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) will work together to ensure that all miners, across all categories (small, medium, and large), are appropriately registered and have a local bank account.

GGDMA’s president, Ronaldo Alphonso, has called on miners to follow the law and sell gold through approved channels.

“It is our responsibility as miners to ensure the sustainability of the industry. We need to make it compliant and declare gold. Make 2026 the year of compliance and declaration,” Alphonso said.

To strengthen the gold exportation system, the government has since established a task force comprising the Attorney General, the Finance Minister, the Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Governor of the Central Bank, and representatives of the Guyana Gold Board, to identify the loopholes.

Late last year, President Ali announced that a comprehensive assessment of Guyana’s mining sector would be completed and presented on January 5, as the government moves to strengthen accountability, environmental protection, and production compliance across the industry.